Deed

A written instrument under seal, containing a contract or agreement which has been delivered by the party to be bound and accepted by the obligee or covenantee.

Co. Litt. 171; 2 BL Comm. 295; Shep. Touch. 50.

A writing under seal, by which lands, tenements, or hereditaments are conveyed for an estate not less than a freehold.

2 Sharswood, Bl. Comm. 294.

Any instrument in writing under seal, whether it relates to the conveyance of real estate, or to any other matter, — as, for instance, a bond, single bill, agreement; or contract of any kind, — is as much a deed as is a conveyance of real estate, and, after delivery and acceptance, is obligatory.

2 Serg. & R. (Pa.) 604; 5 Dana (Ky.) 365; 2 Miss. 154.

The term is, however, often used in the latter sense above given, and perhaps oftener than in its more general signification. conveyances at common law, — of which the original are feoffment, gift, grant, lease, exchange, partition; the derivatives are release, confirmation, surrender, assignment, defeasance, — or conveyances which derive their force by virtue of the statute of uses, namely, covenant to stand seised to uses; bargain and sale of lands; lease and release; deed to lead and declare uses; deed of revocation of uses.