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Legal Term Dictionary

Search our free database of thousands of legal terms. The easiest-to-read, most user-friendly guide to legal terms.This dictionary is from the early 20th century and is not to be construed as legal advice.

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BESAYEL
Besaiel, Besayle. In old English law. A writ which lay where a greatgrandfather died seised of lands and tenements in fee-simple, and on the day of his death a stranger abated, or entered and kept out the heir. Reg. Orig. 226; Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 221 D; 3 Bl. Comm. 186.

Besaiel, Besayle. In old English law. A writ which lay where a greatgrandfather died seised of lands and tenements in fee-simple, and on the day of his death a stranger abated, or entered and kept out the heir. Reg. Orig. 226; Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 221 D; 3 Bl. Comm. 186. Less...
BEST EVIDENCE
Primary evidence, as distinguished from secondary; original, as distinguished from substitutionary; the best and highest evidence of which the nature of the case is susceptible. A written instrument is itself always regarded as the primary or best possible evidence of its existence and contents; a copy, or the recollection of More...

Primary evidence, as distinguished from secondary; original, as distinguished from substitutionary; the best and highest evidence of which the nature of the case is susceptible. A written instrument is itself always regarded as the primary or best possible evidence of its existence and contents; a copy, or the recollection of a witness, would be secondary evidence. State v. McDonald, 65 Me. 467; Elliott v. Van Buren, 33 Mich. 53, 20 Am. Rep. 668; Scott v. State, 3 Tex. App. 104; Gray v. Pentland, 2 Serg. & R. (Pa.) 34; U. S. Sugar Refinery v. Allis Co., 56 Fed. 786, 6 C. C. A. 121; Manhattan Malting Co. v. Sweteland, 14 Mont. 269, 36 Pac. 84. Less...
BESTIALITY
Bestiality is the carnal knowledge and connection against the order of nature by man or woman in any manner with a beast Code Ga. 1882, § 4354. We take it that there is a difference in signification between the terms "bestiality," and the "crime against nature." Bestiality is a connection More...

Bestiality is the carnal knowledge and connection against the order of nature by man or woman in any manner with a beast Code Ga. 1882, § 4354. We take it that there is a difference in signification between the terms "bestiality," and the "crime against nature." Bestiality is a connection between a human being and a brute of the opposite sex. Sodomy is a connection between two human beings of the same sex,-the male,- named from the prevalence of the sin in Sodom. Both may be embraced by the term "crime against nature," as felony embraces murder, larceny, etc., though we think that term is more generally used in reference to sodomy. Buggery seems to include both sodomy and bestiality. Ausman v. Veal, 10 Ind. 356, 71 Am. Dec. 331. Less...
BET
An agreement between two or more persons that a sum of money or other valuable thing, to which all Jointly contribute, shall become the sole property of one or some of them on the happening in the future of an event at present uncertain, or according as a question disputed More...

An agreement between two or more persons that a sum of money or other valuable thing, to which all Jointly contribute, shall become the sole property of one or some of them on the happening in the future of an event at present uncertain, or according as a question disputed between them is settled in one way or the other. Harris v. White, 81 N. Y. 532; Rich v. State, 38 Tex. Cr. R* 199, 42 S. W. 291, 38 L. R. A. 719; Jacobus v. Hazlett, 78 111. App. 241; Shaw v. Clark, 49 Mich. 384, 13 N. W. 786, 43 Am. Rep. 474; Alvord v. Smith, 63 Ind. 62. Bet and wager are synonymous terms, and are applied both to the contract of betting or wagering and to the thing or sum bet or wagered. For example, one bets or wagers, or lays a bet or wager of so much, upon a certain result. But these terms cannot properly be applied to the act to be done, or event to happen, upon which the bet or wager is laid. Bets or wagers may be laid upon acts to be done, events to happen, or facts existing or to exist The bets or wagers may be illegal, and the acts, events, or facts upon which they are laid may not be. Bets or wagers may be laid upon games, and things that are not games. Everything upon which a bet or wager may be laid is not a game. Woodcock v. McOneen. 11 Ind. 16; Shumate v. Com., 15 Grat. 660; Harris v. White, 81 N. Y. 539. Less...
BETROTHMENT
Mutual promise of marriage; the plighting of troth; a mutual promise or contract between a man and woman competent to make it, to marry at a future time.

Mutual promise of marriage; the plighting of troth; a mutual promise or contract between a man and woman competent to make it, to marry at a future time. Less...
BETTER EQUITY
See EQUITY.

See EQUITY. Less...
BETTERMENT
An improvement put upon an estate which enhances its value more than mere repairs. The term is also applied to denote the additional value which an estate acquires in consequence of some public improvement, as laying out or widening a street, etc. French v. New York, 16 How. Prac. (N. More...

An improvement put upon an estate which enhances its value more than mere repairs. The term is also applied to denote the additional value which an estate acquires in consequence of some public improvement, as laying out or widening a street, etc. French v. New York, 16 How. Prac. (N. Y.) 220; Abell v. Brady, 79 Md. 94, 28 Atl. 817; Chaae v. Sioux City, 86 Iowa, 608, 53 N. W. 333. -Betterment acts. Statutes which provide that a bona fide occupant of real estate making lasting improvements in good faith shall have a lien upon the estate recovered by the real owner to the extent that his improvements have increased the value of the land. Also called "occupying claimant acts." Jones v. Hotel Co., 86 Fed. S% 30 C. C. A. 108. Less...
BETWEEN
As a measure or indication of distance, this word has the effect of excluding the two termini. Revere v. Leonard, 1 Mass. 93; State v. Godfrey, 12 Me. 366. See Morris & EX R. Co. v. Central R. Co., 31 N. J. Law, 212. If an act is to be More...

As a measure or indication of distance, this word has the effect of excluding the two termini. Revere v. Leonard, 1 Mass. 93; State v. Godfrey, 12 Me. 366. See Morris & EX R. Co. v. Central R. Co., 31 N. J. Law, 212. If an act is to be done "between" two certain days, it must be performed before the commencement of the latter day. In computing the time in such a case, both the days named are to be excluded. Richardson v. Ford, 14 111. 333; Bunoe v. Reed, 16 Barb. (N. Y.) 352. In case of a devise to A. and B. "between them," these words create a tenancy in common. Lashbrook v. Cock, 2 Mer. 70. Less...
BEVERAGE
This term is properly used to distinguish a sale of liquors to be drunk for the pleasure of drinking, from liquors to be drunk in obedience to a physician's advice. Com. v. Mandeville, 142 Mass. 469, 8 N. E. 327.

This term is properly used to distinguish a sale of liquors to be drunk for the pleasure of drinking, from liquors to be drunk in obedience to a physician's advice. Com. v. Mandeville, 142 Mass. 469, 8 N. E. 327. Less...
BEWARED
O. Eng. Expended. Before the Britons and Saxons had introduced the general use of money, they traded chiefly by exchange of wares. Wharton.

O. Eng. Expended. Before the Britons and Saxons had introduced the general use of money, they traded chiefly by exchange of wares. Wharton. Less...

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