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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  • CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT
    An English court having jurisdiction for the trial of crimes and misdemeanors committed in London and certain adjoining parts of Kent, Essex, and Sussex, and of such other criminal cases as may be sent to it out of the king's bench, though arising beyond its proper Jurisdiction. It was constituted More...
  • CENTRAL OFFICE
    The central office of the supreme court of judicature in England is the office established in pursuance of the recommendation of the legal departments commission in order to consolidate the offices of the masters and associates of the common-law divisions, the crown office of the king's bench division, the record More...
  • CENTRALIZATION
    This word is used to express the system of government prevailing in a country where the management of local matters is in the hands of functionaries appointed by the ministers of state, paid by the state, and in constant communication and under the constant control and inspiration of the ministers More...
  • CENTUMVIRI
    In Roman law. The name of an important court consisting of a body of one hundred and five judges. It was made up by choosing three representatives from each of the thirty-five Roman tribes. The judges sat as one body for the trial of certain important or difficult questions, (called, More...
  • CENTURY
    One hundred. A body of one hundred men. The Romans were divided into centuries, as the English were divided into hundreds. Also a cycle of one hundred years.
  • CEORL
    In Anglo Saxon law. The freemen were divided into two classes,—thanes and ceorls. The thanes were the proprietors of the soil, which was entirely at their disposal. The ceorls were men personally free, but possessing no landed property. Ouizot, Rep. Govt A tenant at will of free condition, who held More...
  • CEPI
    Lat I have taken. This word was of frequent use in the returns of sheriffs when they were made in Latin, and particularly in the return to a writ of capias. The full return (in Latin) to a writ of capias was commonly made in one of the following forms: More...
  • CEPIT
    In civil practice. He took. This was the characteristic word employed in (Latin) writs of trespass for goods taken, and in declarations in trespass and replevin. Replevin in the cepit is a form of replevin which is brought for carrying away goods merely. Wells, Repl. § 53. In criminal practice. More...
  • CEPPAGIUM
    In old English law. The stumps or roots of trees which remain in the ground after the trees are felled. Fleta, lib. 2, C. 41, | 24.
  • CERA, OR CERE
    In old English law. Wax; a seal.
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