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A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
civil- and canon laws. In the ancient civil law, the person who was the minister of, or lattendant upon a magistrate, was ‘called the offictal. In the canon law, the person to whom the bishop generally commits the charge of his spiritual jurisdiction, bears this name.
Wood’s Inst. 30, 505; Merl. Ré pert, h. t.