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Revert

Defined in 3 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Anderson (1889)

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

The return of property to a former owner who parted with possession or title by vesting another with an estate in it. See 101 Ga. 395, 29 S. E. 276.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

To revert is to return. Thus, when the owner of an estate in land has granted a smaller estate to another person, on the determination of the latter estate, the land is said to "revert" to the grantor. Sweet

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

* For property (usually land) to go back or return to a person who formally owned it but who parted with the possession or title to it, by creating an estate in another which has terminated by his act or by operation of law, " Revert back to my other heirs " means, simply, to go hack to such heirs. ^ Reversion. The residue of an estate left in the grantor, to commence in possession after the determination of some particular estate granted out by him. " The returning of lands to the grantor or his heirs after the grant is over."* A return of the estate to the original owner, after the limited estate carved out of it has determined.' The fee-simple of land must abide somewhere; and if he who is possessed of the whole carves out of it a smaller estate, and grants it away, whatever is not so granted remains in him. While a " reversion " is never therefore created by a deed, but arises from construction of law, a " remainder " can never be limited except by a deed or a devise. Both are equally transferable, when actually vested, being estates in proesenti, though taking effect in futuro. A reversion is an incorporeal hereditament." ' Antoni v. Greenhow, 107 U. S. 777 (1882),'Waite, C. J. ' Campbell v. James, 18 Blatch. 196 (1880). ' Laithe v. Mc Donald, 7 Kan. 868 (1871), Brewer, J. • L. re-vertere, to turn backward. » Beatty v. Trustees, 39 N. J. E. 463 (188S). " 8 HI. Com. 175, quoting 1 Coke, Inst. 142; 86 N. 3i L. 540. '4 Kent, 353-64. Reversionary. Pertaining to or partaking of the nature of a reversion. A reversionary interest is the right to enjoy in the future property at present in the possession of anotlier. Reversioner. A person entitled to an estate in a reversion. Reverter. Reversion. See Estate, 3; Fixture; Remainder; Table, 4.