Legal Term Dictionary

A sworn officer of the king whose duty it was to look to the assise of woolen cloth made throughout the land, and to the putting on the seals for that purpose ordained, for which he collected a duty called "alnage." Cowell; Termes de la Ley.

A sworn officer of the king whose duty it was to look to the assise of woolen cloth made throughout the land, and to the putting on the seals for that purpose ordained, for which he collected a duty called "alnage." Cowell; Termes de la Ley. Less...

In old records, a place where alders grow, or a grove of alder trees. Doomsday Book; Co. Litt 4b.

In old records, a place where alders grow, or a grove of alder trees. Doomsday Book; Co. Litt 4b. Less...

Alodes, Alodis. L. Lat. In feudal law. Old forms of alodium, or allodium, (q. v.)

Alodes, Alodis. L. Lat. In feudal law. Old forms of alodium, or allodium, (q. v.) Less...

This term means "by," "on," or "over," according to the subject-matter and the context. Pratt v. Railroad Co., 42 Me. 585; Walton v. Railway Co., 67 Mo. 58; Church v. Meeker, 34 Conn. 421.

This term means "by," "on," or "over," according to the subject-matter and the context. Pratt v. Railroad Co., 42 Me. 585; Walton v. Railway Co., 67 Mo. 58; Church v. Meeker, 34 Conn. 421. Less...

In Scotch practice. An abbreviation of Alter, the other; the opposite party; the defender. 1 Broun, 336, note.

In Scotch practice. An abbreviation of Alter, the other; the opposite party; the defender. 1 Broun, 336, note. Less...

L. Lat. In old English law. High treason. 4 Bl. Comm. 75. See HIGH TREASON.

L. Lat. In old English law. High treason. 4 Bl. Comm. 75. See HIGH TREASON. Less...

L. Lat. In old English law. A highway; the highway. 1 Salk. 222. Alta via regia; the king's highway; "the king's high street" Finch, Law, b. 2, c. 9.

L. Lat. In old English law. A highway; the highway. 1 Salk. 222. Alta via regia; the king's highway; "the king's high street" Finch, Law, b. 2, c. 9. Less...

In ecclesiastical law. Offerings made on the altar; all profits which accrue to the priest by means of the altar. Ayliffe, Parerg. 61.

In ecclesiastical law. Offerings made on the altar; all profits which accrue to the priest by means of the altar. Ayliffe, Parerg. 61. Less...

To make a change in; to modify ; to vary in some degree; to change some of the elements or ingredients or details without substituting an entirely new thing or destroying the identity of the thing affected. Hannibal v. Winchell. 54 Mo. 177; Haynes v. State, 15 Ohio St. 455; More...

To make a change in; to modify ; to vary in some degree; to change some of the elements or ingredients or details without substituting an entirely new thing or destroying the identity of the thing affected. Hannibal v. Winchell. 54 Mo. 177; Haynes v. State, 15 Ohio St. 455; Davis v. Campbell, 93 Iowa, 524, 61 N. W. 1053; Sessions v. State, 115 Ga. 18, 41 S. E. 259. See ALTERATION. Synonyms. This term is to be distinguished from its synonyms "change" and "amend." To change may import the substitution of an entirely different thing, while to alter is to operate upon a subject-matter which continues objectively the same while modified in some particular. If a check is raised, in respect to its amount, it is altered; if a new check is put in its place, it is changed. To "amend" implies that the modification made in the subject improves it, which is not necessarily the case with an alteration. An amendment always involves an alteration, but an alteration does not always amend. Less...

Variation; changing; making different. See ALTER. An alteration is an act done upon the instrument by which its meaning or language is changed. If what is written upon or erased from the instrument has no tendency to produce this result, or to mislead any person, it is not an alteration. More...

Variation; changing; making different. See ALTER. An alteration is an act done upon the instrument by which its meaning or language is changed. If what is written upon or erased from the instrument has no tendency to produce this result, or to mislead any person, it is not an alteration. Oliver v. Hawley, 5 Neb. 444. An alteration is said to be material when it affects, or may possibly affect, the rights of the persons interested in the document. Synonyms. An act done upon a written instrument, which, without destroying the identity of the document, introduces some change into its terms, meaning, language, or details is an alteration. This may be done either by the mutual agreement of the parties concerned, or by a person interested under the writing without the consent, or without the knowledge, of the others. In either case it is properly denominated an alteration; but if performed by a mere stranger, it is more technically described as a spoliation or mutilation. Cochran v. Nebeker, 48 Ind. 462. The term is not properly applied to any change which involves the substitution of a practically new document. And it should in strictness be reserved for the designation of changes in form or language, and not used with reference to modifications in matters of substance. The term is also to be distinguished from "defacement," which conveys the idea of an obliteration or destruction of marks, signs, or characters already existing. An addition which does not change or interfere with the existing marks or signs, but gives a different tenor or significance to the whole, may be an alteration, but is not a defacement. Linney v. State, 6 Tex. 1, 55 Am. Dec. 756. Again, in the law of wills, there is a difference between revocation and alteration. If what is done simply takes away what was given before, or a part of it, it is a revocation; but if it gives something in addition or in substitution, then it is an alteration. Appeal of Miles, 68 Conn. 237, 36 Atl. 39, 36 t R. A. 176. Alterius circnmventio alii non praebet actionem. The deceiving of one person does not afford an action to another. Dig. 50, 17, 49. Less...