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Common Intent

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

The natural sense given to words. It is the rule that when words are used which will bear a natural sense and an artificial one, or one to be made out by argument and inference, the natural sense shall prevail. It is simply a rule of construction, and not of addition. Common intent cannot add to a sentence words which have been omitted; 2 H. Blackst.

530.

In pleading, certainty is required; but certainty to a common intent is sufficient — that is, what upon a reasonable construction may be called certain, without recurring to possible facts; Co. Litt 203 a; Dougl. 163.

See Certainty.