caveat emptor

Defined in 5 dictionaries — Case Law, Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Bouvier (1839)

Definitions from Case Law

From 77 U.S. 383 - Barnard v. Kellogg · 1870Most cited · 181 citing opinions

in sales of personal property, in the absence of express warranty, where the buyer has an opportunity to inspect the commodity, and the seller is guilty of no fraud, and is neither the manufacturer nor grower of the article he sells, the maxim of caveat emptor applies

Show all 4 Supreme Court definitions and how they changed over time 1824–1870

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

Let the buyer beware. See 72 Ark. 343, 65 L. R. A. 80, 80 S. W. 582.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Let the buyer take care. This maxim summarizes the rule that the purchaser of an article must examine, judge, and test it for himself, bsing bound to discover any obvious defects or imperfections. Miller v. Tiffany, 1 Wall. 309, 17 L. Ed. 540; Barnard v. Kellogg, 10 Wall. 388, 19 I Ed. 987; Slaughter v. Gerson, 13 Wall. 383, 20 L. Ed. 627; Hargous v. Stone, 5 N. Y. 82; Wissler v. Craig, 80 Va. 32; Wright v. Hart, 18 Wend. (N. Y.) 453. Caveat emptor, qui ignorare non debuit quod jus alienum emit. Hob. 99. Let a purchaser bsware, who ought not to be ignorant that he is purchasing the rights of another.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

Let the buyertake care. This maxim summarizes the rule that the purchaser of an article must examine, judge, and test it for himself, being bound to discover any obvious defects or imperfections. Hob. 99; Co. Litt. 102a. Caveat emptor, qui ignorare non debuit quod jus alienum emit. Hob. 99. Let a purchaser beware, who ought not to be ignorant that he is purchasing the rights of another.

A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States

John Bouvier · 1839

Let the purchaser beware. It isa rule of the common law, in which respect it is directly opposed to the civil law, that the purchaser is bound to examine and ascertain the defects in the thing sold, and unless there be some misrepresentation or artifice to disguise it, or some warranty as to its qualities or character, the vendee is bound by the contract, notwithstanding there may be intrinsic defects and vices in it, known to the vendor and unknown to the vendee, materially affecting its value. 2 Kent. Com. Lect. 39, p. 478; 2 BI. Com. 451; 1 Story, Eq. § 212; 221. This rule has been severely assailed, not without some appearance of justice, as being the instrument of falsehood and fraud; but although its policy has been frequently questioned, it is too well established to be disregarded. Coop. Just. 611, ne