obiter dictum
Defined in 6 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891)
Definitions from Case Law
From 337 U.S. 535 - Woods v. Interstate Realty Co. · 1949Most cited · 1,300 citing opinions
where a decision rests on two or more grounds, none can be relegated to the category of obiter dictum
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
See "Dictum."
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
See Dictum.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A remark made, or opinion expressed, by a judge, in his decision upon a cause, "by the way," that is, incidentally or collaterally, and not directly upon the question before him, or upon a point not necessarily involved in the determination of the cause, or introduced by way of illustration, or analogy or argument.
Defined under Obiter in Black's Law Dictionary.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
Lat. A remark made, or opinion expressed, by a judge, in his decision upon a cause, “by the way,” that is, incidentally or collaterally, and not directly upon the question before him, or upon a point not necessarily involved in the determination of the cause, or introduced by way of illustration, or analogy or aygument.