Lapse

To fall, slip or sink; to fail of its object; to become void. Lapsed: become ineffectual; failed of its destination. Lapsed devise: a devise which fails, or takes no effect, in consequence of the death of the devisee before the testator. Lapsed legacy: a legacy which becomes void by reason of the death of the legatee before the testator. to the taker's own use, and make them his property. Larceny is either simple or compound; compound whei'e it is a taking from the house or the person of the owner, and simple in all other cases. Formerly there was also a distinction between one act and another on the basis of the value of the goods taken, a taking of goods of more than a certain value being called grand larceny, of goods of less value, petit larceny, v. Embezzlement; Extortion; False pretenses; Robbery.

n.

In ecclesiastical law. The transfer, by forfeiture, of a right to present 687 LARCENY quence of some act of negligence by the formere FAy).Partdsd. * In the law of wills. The failure of a testamentary gift in consequence of the death of the devisees or legiutee during the life of the testator. In criminal proceedings, “lapse” is used, in England, in tle same sense as “abate” in ordinary procedure; #4. ¢., to signify that the proceedings came to an end by the death of one of the parties or some other event.