Definitions from Black's Law Dictionary: 2nd Edition and Ballentine's Law Dictionary as are available for each term in each dictionary.
  • Black's Law Dictionary: 2nd Edition

    In practice. Terms anciently used to designate actions commenced by original bill, as distinguished from those commenced by original writ, and applied in modern practice to suits commenced by capias ad respondendum. 1 Arch. Pr. pp. 2, 337; Harkness v. Harkness, 5 Hill (N. Y.) 213.