Legal Term Dictionary

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  • DEFEASIBLE
    Subject to be defeated, annulled, revoked, or undone upon the happening of a future event or the performance of a condition subsequent, or by a conditional limitation. Usually spoken of estates and interests in land. For Instance, a mortgagee's estate is defeasible (liable to be defeated) by the mortgagor's equity More...
  • DEFEAT
    To prevent, frustrate, or circumvent ; as In the phrase "hinder, delay, or defeat creditors." Coleman v. Walker, 3 Mete. (Ky.) 65, 77 Am. Dec. 163; Walker v. Sayers, 5 Bush (Ky.) 581. To overcome or prevail against in any contest; as in speaking of the "defeated party" in an More...
  • DEFECT
    The want or absence of some legal requisite; deficiency; imperfection; insufficiency. Haney-Campbell Co. v. Creamery Ass'n, 119 Iowa, 188, 93 N. W. 297; Bliven T. Sioux City,'85 Iowa. 346, 52 N. W. 246. -Defect of form. An imperfection in the style, manner, arrangement, or non-essential parts of a legal instrument, More...
  • DEFECTIVE
    Lacking in some particular which is essential to the completeness, legal sufficiency, or security of the object spoken of; as, a "defective" highway or bridge, (Munson v. Derby, 37 Conn. 310, 9 Am. Rep. 332; Whitney v. Ticonderoga, 58 Hun, 214, 6 N. Y. Supp. 844;) machinery, (Machinery Co. v. More...
  • DEFECTUS
    Lat. Defect; default; want; imperfection; disqualification. -Challenge propter defectum. A challenge to a juror on account of some legal disqualification, such as infancy, etc. See CHALLENGE.-Defeetus sanguinis. Failure of the blood, {. e., failure or want of issue.
  • DEFEND
    To prohibit or forbid. To deny. To contest and endeavor to defeat a claim or demand made against one in a court of justice. Boehmer v. Irrigation Dist, 117 Cal. 19, 48 Pac. 908. To oppose, repel, or resist. In covenants of warranty in deeds, it means to protect, to More...
  • DEFENDANT
    The person defending or denying; the party against whom relief or recovery is sought in an action or suit. Jew-ett Car Co. v. Klrkpatrick Const. Co. (C. C.) 107 Fed. 622; Brower v. Nellis, 6 Ind. App. 323, 33 N. E. 672; Tyler v. State, 63 Vt. 300, 21 Atl. More...
  • DEFENDEMUS
    Lat. A word used in grants and donations, which binds the donor and his heirs to defend the donee, if any one go about to lay any incumbrance on the thing given other than what is contained in the deed of donation. Bract. 1. 2, c. 16.
  • DEFENDER
    (Fr.) To deny; to defend; to conduct a suit for a defendant; to forbid; to prevent; to protect.
  • DEFENDER
    In Scotch and canon law. A defendant.
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