Dedication Day

The feast of dedication of churches, or rather the feast day of the saint and patron of a church, which was celebrated not only by the inhabitants of the place, but by those of all the neighboring villages, who usually came thither; and such assemblies were allowed as lawful. It was usual for the people to feast and to drink on those days. CoweU. the king where there were more grantors than one, instead of dedi et conceasi. DEDIMUS POTESTATEM (Lat. we have given power). The name of a writ to commission private persons to do some act in the place of a judge; as, to administer an oath of office to a justice of the peace, to examine witnesses, and the like.

Cowell; Comyn, Dig. "Chancery" (K 3), (P 2), "Fine" (E 7); Dane, Abr. Index; 2 Sharswood, Bl. Comm. 351.

DEDIMUS POTESTATEM DE ATTORNO faciendo (Lat.). The name of a writ which was formerly issued by authority of the crown in England to authorize an attorney to appear for a defendant. By St. Westminster II. (13 Edw. I. c. 10), all persons impleaded may make an attorney to sue for them, in all pleas moved by or against them, in the superior courts there enumerated.

3 Man. & G. 184, note.

DEDITITII (Lat.) In Roman law. Criminals who have been marked in the face or on the body with fire or an iron so that the mark cannot be erased, and subsequently manumitted. Calv. Lex.