The

Defined in 5 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

A demonstrative word which particularizes the noun before which it stands and limits its meaning more definitely and particularly than the indefinite article "a". 261 111. 417.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

A chief officer of the king, deriving his name from his Black Rod of Office, on the top of which reposes a golden lion. During the session of Parliament he attends on the peers, summons the Commons to the House of Lords, and to his custody all peers impeached for any crime or contempt are first committed. Black Book 255; Wharton. His deputy is the Yeoman Usher. Similar officers are found in the Dominion of Canada and other colonies. Cent. Diet.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

An article which particularizes the subject spoken of. "Grammatical niceties shonid not be resorted to without necessity; but it would be extending liberality to an unwarrantable length to confound the articles la' and 'the.' The most unlettered persons understand that la' is indefinite, but 'the' refers to a certain object." Per Tiigh-man, C. J., Sharff v. Co.m., 2 Bin. (Pa.) 516 The fund which has received the benefit shonid make the satisfaction. 4 Bouv. Inst, note 3730.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

<A code or system of laws in use among the Celtic tribes of Scotland down to the beginning of the fourteenth eentury, and then abolished by Kdward I, of England,

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

Particularizes the subject spoken of. The bill of scandal may be very different from a bill of scandal.' See A, 4.