The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Mutilating the forefeet of mastiffs, to prevent them from running after deer. 3 Bl. Comm. 71.

Edward III. substituted the Latin language for the Norman French in the records, and the English in other proceedings. The Latin was used by virtue of its being the language of sch

An ancient local English court, said to have been held in Essex once a year, at cock crowing, without a light or pen and ink, and conducted in a whisper.

An outlaw.

An annual English publication of a quasi official character, comprising various statistics of interest in connection with the legal profession. It includes (among other information

Peers in the British parliament who have held high judicial office, or have been distinguished in the legal profession. Mozley & W.

The military law or articles of war.

In England. The general body of commercial usages in matters relative to commerce. Blackstone calls it the "custom of merchants," and ranks it under the head of the particular cust

That law which gives precepts and rules concerning war, how to make and observe leagues and truce, to punish offenders in the camp, and such like. Cowell; Blount. Now more commonly

In Roman law. An act of Valentinian, passed A. D. 426, providing that the writings of only five jurists, viz., Papinian, Paul, Gains, Ulpian, and Modestinus, should be quoted as au

Law authorizing reprisal against the goods of another, where justice cannot be had in ordinary course. See "Letter of Marque and Reprisal."

See "International Law."

That law which God, the sovereign of the universe, has prescribed to all men, not by any formal promulgation, but by the internal dictate of reason alone. It is discovered by a jus

The law of the land, has been defined to be the general law; a law which hears before it condemns; which proceeds upon inquiry, and renders judgment only after trial. The meaning i

The rules of law regulating the conduct of persons on highways to avoid collision with or other injury to other persons thereon. It cannot be stated in rules, but is a general duty

See "Law Merchant"

A maritime code said to have been drawn up by Richard I. at the Isle of Oleron, whence its, name. See Fed. Cas. vol. 30, Appendix, for a copy.

The ecclesiastical law, or law Christian. Co. Litt. 344.

An action at law, or litigation.

Being entitled to, or having the benefit and protection of, the law.

One skilled in the law. A popular term for a person engaged in the practice of law. See "Attorney."

In English Law. That which relates to persons or things not ecclesiastical. In the United States, the people are not by law divided, as in England, into ecclesiastical and lay. The

A corporation composed of lay persons, or for lay purposes. Angell & A. Corp. 28-80; 1 Bl. Comm. 470. According to the line of demarcation tions." They are created for a variety of

See "Lay."

In maritime law. The time allowed to the master of a vessel for loading and unloading the same. In the absence of any custom to the contrary, Sundays are to be computed in the calc

A fee held by ordinary feudal tenure, as distinguished from the ecclesiastical tenure of frankalmoign, by which an ecclesiastical corporation held of donor. The tenure of frankalmo

Lay rector, to whom the greater tithes are reserved, the lesser going to the vicar. 1 Burn, Ecc. Law, 75, 76.

See "Lay."

In ecclesiastical law. One who is not an ecclesiastic nor a clergyman.

This has always been regarded as an appropriate expression for the location and establishment of a highway. 133 Mass. 329.

Jurymen. Finch, Law, 381.

or LAZARETTO. A place, selected by public authority, where vessels coming from infected or unhealthy countries are required to perform quarantine.

A fine payable to the seigneur upon every sale of lands within his seigniory. 1 Low. (U. S.) 59. Any transfer of lands for a consideration rent) (1 Low. [U. S.] 84); a transfer und

A term applied to deeds declaring the use of a fine; that is, specifying to whose use the fine shall inure before the fine is levied. 2 Bl. Comm. 363. See "Deed."

A case decided by a court of last resort, which decides some particular point in question, and to which reference is constantly or frequently made, for the purpose of determining t

That one of two or more counsel employed on the same side in a cause who has the principal management of the cause. So called as distinguished

In practice. A question which puts into the witness' mouth the words to be echoed back, or plainly suggests the answer which the interrogating party desires or expects. 164 111. Ap

A measure of length, which consists of three geographical miles. The jurisdiction of the United States extends into the sea a marine league. See Acts Congress June 5, 1794 (1 Story

The waste which has taken place in liquids, by their escaping out of the casks or vessels in which they were kept. By Act March 2, 1799, § 59 (1 Story, U. S. Laws, 625), it is prov

Loyal; that which belongs to the law. LEALTE (Law Fr.) Legality; the condition of a legalis homo, or lawful man. LL. Gul. Conq. lib. 16.

See "Bissextile."

A qualification usually prescribed by statute for judges and district attorneys. Admission to the bar is the only and conclusive test of legal learning wi,thin such a requirement.

A contract by which a person owning or controlling lands or tenements permits another to occupy the same for a period less than that to which the right of the lessor extends. The p

A species of conveyance much used in England, consisting theoretically of two instruments, but which are practically united in the same instrument. It was invented by Sergeant Moor

The estate held by virtue of a lease. For the various kinds of leasehold estates, see "Tenancy."

In Scotch law. Verbal sedition, viz., slanderous and untrue speeches to the disdain, reproach, and contempt of his majesty, his council and pro- LEAUTE (Law Fr.) Legality; sufficie

To give or dispose of by will. "The word 'leave,' as applied to the subject matter, prima facie means a disposition by will." 10 East, 438.

A defense to an action in trespass setting up the consent of the plaintiff to the trespass complained of.

Permission granted by the court to do something which, without such permission, would not be allowable.

LAIRWITE, or LEGERwite. A fine for adultery or fornication, anciently paid to the lords of certain manors. 4 Inst. ^06.

A species of proof on charges of impotency in France, coitus corani testibus. Abolished A. D. 1677. Rapalje & L.

The contract makes the law. LE GUIDON (or LE GUIDON DE LA MER). The title of a celebrated French treatise on the law of insurance, being the earliest work extant on that subject. I

In Spanish law. The person duly authorized by the government to read and decipher ancient documents and titles, in order to entitle them to legal effect in courts of justice. The i

(Law Fr.) Damaged. Kelham.

In ecclesiastical law. The name of a book kept in the prerogative courts in England. It is considered as a roll of the court, but, it seems, it cannot be read in evidence. Bac. Abr

In English law. The name of a court of criminal jurisdiction, formerly of much importance, but latterly fallen into disuse. See "Court Leet." LEGA (Law Lat.) In old English law. Th

In old English law. That which may be bequeathed. Cowell.

A gift by last will. The term is more commonly applied to money or personal property, although sometimes used with reference to a charge upon real estate. 2 Williams, Ex'rs, 947; 5

Such property of a testator in the hands of his executor as is liable to debts in temporal courts, and to legacies in the spiritual by course of law. Equitable assets are such as a

Legal definitions are, for the most part, inductive generalizations derived from our juridical experience; and, in order to be complete and adequate, they must sum up the results o

One the right to which may be enforced in a court of law. It is distinguished from an equitable estate, the right to which can be established only in a court of equity. 2 Bouv. Ins

That rate of interest

Lawful money of England. 1 Inst. 207.

The act of making lawful. By legalization is also understood the act by which' a judge or competent officer authenticates a record, or other matter, in order that the same may be l

See "Legal."

Constructive or implied malice. See "Malice." LEGAL IVl EMORY. See "Memory."

Sometimes used for "personal representative" (q. v.).

In Scotch law. The period within which a proprietor is at liberty to redeem land adjudged from him for debt. Bell, Diet. "i LEGAL TENDER. Lawful money which may be tendered in paym

The name of a code of ecclesiastical laws, enacted in national synods, held under legates from Popes Gregory IX. and Clement IV., in the reign of Hen. III., about the years 1220 an

(Lat.) In the civil law. One to whom a thing is bequeathed; a lega-, tee, or legatary. Bract, fol. 40. In old European law. A legate, messenger, or envoy. Spelman.

A legatee to whom the testator has in his will instructed his heir to give a definite share of his universal succession. This kind of legacy was called a legacy of partition (legat

One to whom anything Is bequeathed; a legatee. This word is sometimes, though seldom, used to designate a legate or nuncio.

The person to whom a legacy is given. See "Legacy."

Legates are extraordinary ambassadors sent by the pope to Catholic countries to represent him, and to exercise his jurisdiction. Thfey are distinguished from the ambassadors of the

The third part of a freeman's personal estate, which by the custom of London, in case he had a wife and children, the freeman might always have disposed of by will. Bac. Abr. "Cust

In Civil Law. A legacy; a gift left by will. Dig. 3136. A gift left by a deceased person to be executed by the heir. Inst. 2. 20. 1. In Common Law. A legacy. In Old Ecclesiastical

REGIS VICE FUNGITUR A quo destinatur, et honorandus est sicut ille to be honored as he is whose place he fills. 12 Coke, 17.

To lose one's law; to become infamous or outlaw.

The contract makes the law. 22 Wend. (N. Y.) 215, 233. LEGEM FACERE (Law Lat.) In old English law. To make law, or oath. Legem vadiare, to wage law. Legem habere, to have law; to b

To have one's law; to be a legal person. LEGEM JUBERE (or SCISCERE). In the Roman law. To give consent and authority to a proposed law; to make or pass it. Tayl. Civ. Law, 9. LEGEM

To wage one's law. LEGES (Lat.) I In Civil Law. Laws proposed by a magistrate of the senate, and adopted by the whole people in comitia centuriata. See "Populiscitum"; "Lex." In En

VIvunt, et moriuntur. Human laws are bom, live, and die. 7 Coke, 25; 2 Atk. 674; 11 C. B. 767; 1 Bl. Comm. 89. LEGES NATURAE PERFECTISSIMAE sunt et immutabiles; human! vero juris c

Laws should bind the proposers of them. Pleta, bk. 1, c 17, § 11. LEGES TABELLARIAE (Lat.) Roman laws regulating the mode of voting by ballot (tabella). 1 Kent, Comm. 232, note.

NON DORMIENtibus subveniunt. The laws aid the vigilant, not the negligent. Fanning; Dunham; 5 Johns. Ch. (N. Y.) 122, 145; Toole; Cook; 16 How. Pr. (N. Y.) 142, 144. LEGIBUS SOLUTU

lege naturae utendum est. When laws Imposed by the state fail, we must act by the law of nature. 2 Rolle, 298. ' LEGIS CONSTRUCTIO NON FACIT IN- Juriam. The construction of law doe

The authority, under the constitution, to make laws, and to alter or repeal them.

One who makes lawis; a member of the legislature (g, v.).

RE. bus et non verbis, legem imponere. The voice of legislators is a living voice, to impose laws on things, and not on words. 10 Coke, 101.

That body of men in the state which has the power of making laws. LEGISPERITUS (Law Lat) A person skilled or learned in the law; a lawyer or adyocate. Feud. lib. 2, tit. 1.

IN execution oi his office, either to fly or retreat. 6 Coke, 68.

The state Of being born in wedlock; that is, in a lawful manner.

That which is according to law; as, legitimate children are lawful children, born in wedlock, in contradistinction to bastards; legitimate authority, or lawful power, in opposition

The act of givhig the character of legitimate children to those who were not so born. This was formerly effected (1) By subsequent marriage of the parents, Hunter, Introd. Rom. Law

In civil law. That portion of a parent's estate of which he cannot disinherit his children without a legal oause. The Civil Code of Louisiana declares that donations inter vivos or

Lawful; legitimate. Legitimus haeres et filius est quern nuptiae demonstrant, a lawful son and heir is he whom the marriage points out to be lawful. Bracton, fol. 63. LEGO (Lat.) I

He reads as a clerk. The answer made by the ordinary to the question legit vel non, importing that the prisoner could read, and was entitled to benefit of clergy. Dyer, 205. LEGIT

In Saxon law. An ofl Scer who had jurisdiction over a lathe. Cowell. LEIPA (Law Lat.) In old English law. A fugitive or runaway. LL. Hen. I. c. 43. Spelman. Possibly the root of "e

He from whom a thing is borrowed; the bailor of an article loaned. LEOD (Saxon). People; a people; a nation. Spelman, voc. "Leodes." LEODES (Law Lat.; from Saxon Lead). In old Euro

A tax for lighting the church. LEONINA SOCIETAS (Lat.) An attempted partnership, in which one party was to bear all the losses, and have no share in the profits, This was a void pa

The king assents. This is the formula used in England, and formerly in France, when the king approved of a bill passed by the legislature. 1 Toullier, Dr. Civ. note 52.