Tempus

Lat.

In the civil and old English law. Time in general. A time limited ; a season; e. y., tempus pessonis, mast time in the forest

— Tempus continuum. In the civil law. A continuous or absolute period of time. A term which begins in run from a certain event, even though he for whom it runs has no knowledge of the event, and in which, when it has once begun to run, all the days are reckoned as they follow one another in the calendar. Dig. 3, 2, 8; Mackeld. Rom. Law, § 195.

— Tempus semestre. In old English law. The period of six months or half a year, consisting of one hundred and eighty-two days. Cro. Jac. 166.

— Tempos utile. In the civil law. A profitable or advantageous period of time. A term which begins to run from a certain event, only when he for whom it runs has obtnined a knowledge of the event, and in which, when it has once begun to run, those days are not reckoned on which one has no experiundi potestas; i. e., on which one cannot prosecute his rights before a court. Dig. 3, 6, 6; Mackeld. Rom. Law, § 195.

Time; limited time. Nullum tempus occurrit regi. No time runs against the king. Nullum tempus occurrit reiputalicBB. No time runs against the commonwealth. Lapse of time, at common law, will not prevent the sovereign from asserting a right; laches cannot be alleged against the state. The sovereign is not included in statutes of limitations unless expressly named. But possession for sixty years is a bar even against the prerogative.' It is a settled principle that the king is not barred unless named in the statute. The ground upon which the maxim rests is the principle of public policy (which belongs alike to all governments) that the public interests should not be prejudiced by the negligence of pub Uo officers to whose care they are confided. But statutes which regulate proceedings may include the government, without express reference to it.' No presumption of payment against the government arises from mere lapse of time.^ The doctrine, as respects civil rights of action and prosecutions for offenses, has been generally qualified by legislation.* Prior tempore, prior jure. Earlier in time, stronger in right. First in time, first in right. Priority gives precedence. The principle applies where the equities are equal; when unequal, the superior equity prevails. = A patentee's title rests entirely on priority of invention, g. V. Priority in the drawing of a check gives the holder no preference of payment over checks subsequently drawn. The principle is afso illustrated in the prioiity allowed by attachment and lien laws.' Tempore. In the time of.

I., Temps, /r. Time. Temporis exceptio: a plea of lapse of time. Tempus utile: available time; v. Axnm utilis.

Time; a time; a limited period of time. Tempus continuum. A continuous period of time. In the civil law, this tenn denotes a period of time which is reckoned continuously once it has begun to run, all the days being reckoned as they follow one another in the calendar, Tempus utile. Time which can be used. Time available for the exercise of a right. In the civil law, this term denotes a period computed by reckoning only the time in which a right or privilege could be legally exercised, as distinguished from tempus continuum. See Annis Utius.