Praerogativa Regis

(L. Lat.)

In old English law. The king's prerogative. Crabb's Hist. 204. PRAESCRIPTIO (Lat.)

In the civil law. That mode of acquisition whereby one becomes proprietor of a thing on the ground that he has for a long time possessed it as his own; prescription. Dig. 41. 3; 1 Mackeld. Civ. Law, p. 290, § 276. It was anciently distinguished from "usueapio," {q. v.), but was blended with it by Justinian. Heinec. Elem. Jur. Civ. lib. 2, tit. 6, § 438. PRAESCRIPTIO EST TITULUS EX USU et tempore substantiam capiens ab auctoritate legis. Prescription is a title by authority of law, deriving its force from use and time. Co. Litt. 113. PRAESCRIPTIO ET EXECUTIO NGN pertinent ad valorem contractus, sed ad tempus et modum actionis instituendae. Prescription and the execution of a contract do not affect the validity of the contract, but the time and manner of bringing an action. 3 Mass. 84; 3 Johns. Ch. (N. Y.) 190, 219.

/. The King's