Estate for years

Defined in 5 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Burrill (1850)

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

An estate for a fixed time.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

An interest in lands by virtue of a contract for the possession of them for a definite and limited period of time. 2 Bla. Com. 140; 2 Crabb, R. P. I 1207; Baa Abr. Leases; Wms. R. P. 195. Such estates are frequently called terms. See Teem. The length of time for which the estate is to endure is of no importance in ascertaining its character, unless otherwise declared by statute; Chapman v. Gray, 15 Mass. 439; Brewster v. Hill, 1 N. H. 350; Diller v. Roberts, 13 S. & R. (Pa.) 00, 15 Am.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

A species of estate less than freehold, where a man has an interest in lands and tenements, and a possession thereof, by virtue of such interest, for some fixed and determinate period of time; as in the case where lands are let for ihe term of a certain number of years, agreed upon between the lessor and the lessee, and the lessee enters thereon. 1 Steph. Comm. 263, 264. Blackstone calls this estote a "contract" for the possession of lands or tenements for some determinate period. 2 BL Comm. 140. See Hutcheson v. Hodnett, 115 Ga. 990, 42 S. E. 422; Despard v. Churchill, 53 N. Y. 192; Brown v. Bragg, 22 Ind. 125.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

A species of estate less than freehold, where a man has for some fixed and determinate period of time; as in the ease where lands are Jet for the term of a certain number of years, agreed upon between the lessor and the lessee, and the lessee enters thereon. 1 Steph. Comm. 263, 264. Biackstone calls this estate a “contract” for the possession of lands or tenements for some determinate period. 2 BI. Comm. 140.

A New Law Dictionary and Glossary

Alexander M. Burrill · 1850

A species of estate less than freehold, where a man has an interest in lands and tenements, and a possession thereof, by virtue of such interest, for some fixed and determinate period of time; as in the case where lands are let for the term of a certain number of years, agreed upon between the lessor and the lessee, and the lessee enters thereon. 1 Steph, Com, 263, 264. Blackstone calls this estate a contract for the possession of lands or tenements for some determinate period. 2 Bl Com. 140. See 2 Crahb's Bioi Prop. 224, § 1267. I EUUan Ts Beat Prop. 198. 4 Ken Cs Com. 86. It 18 frequently called a term, {terminus,) because its duration or continuance is bounded, limited and determined. 2 BU Com, 143.