Stipulatio

Lat. In the Roman law, stipulatio was the verbal contract, (verbis oUigatio,) and was the most solemn and formal of all the contracts in that system of jurisprudence. It was entered into by question and corresponding answer thereto, by the parties, both being present at the same time, and usually by such words as "spondes t spondeo," "promittist promitto," and the like. Brown.

— Stipulatio Aquiliana. A particular application of the stipulatio, which was used to collect together into one verbal contract all the liabilities of every kind and quality of the debtor, with a view to their being released or discharged by au acoeptilatio, that mode of discharge being applicable only to the verbal contract Brown.

I.

In the civil law. A contract in a solemn form of words, consisting of an interrogation and a reply, as " Spondesf Spondeo."

In the Roman law, the term applied to the solemn form of constituting an agreement. This form " I do." The maker of the promise thereupon became bound to i ts performance. See Sand. Just.; Bouvier; Burrill. The stipulatio was the highest and most authentic contract known to the civil law, entered into before the magistrate or public officer, through the medium of interrogatories and answers calculated to explain the nature and extent of the undertaking, to put the parties entering into it on their guard, and to show it to be theii" mature and deliberate act. It could not be impeached, except for fraud or deceit; and could not be released or discharged, except by an equallysolemn proceeding, conducted by question and answer before the public functionary, called an acceptilation. ( Virtn. 677; Sand. Just. 431.) Wharton.