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.

Search
  • DIGAMA OR DIGAMY
    Second marriage; marriage to a second wife after the death of the first, as "bigamy," in law,, is having two wives at once. Originally, a man who married a widow, or married again after the death of his wife, was said to be guilty of bigamy. Co. Litt. 40b, note,
  • DIGEST
    A collection or compilation, embodying the chief , matter of numerous books in one, disposed under proper heads or titles, and usually by an alphabetical arrangement, for facility in reference. As a legal term, "digest" is to be distinguished from '"abridgment. The latter is a summary or epitome of the More...
  • DIGESTA
    Digests. One of the titles of the Pandects of Justinian. Inst, proem, f.4. Bracton uses the singular, "Digestunu" Bract, fol. 19.
  • DIGESTS
    The ordinary name of- the Pandects of Justinian, which are now usually cited by the abbreviation "Dig." Instead of "Ff.," as formerly. Sometimes called "Digest," in the singular.
  • DIGGING
    Has been held as synonymous with "excavating," and not confined to the removal of earth. Sherman v. New York, 1 N. Y. 316.
  • DIGNITARY
    In canon law. A person holding an ecclesiastical benefice or dignity, which gave him some pre-eminence above mere priests and canons. To this class exclusively belonged all bishops, deans, archdeacons, etc.; but it now includes all the prebendaries and canons of the church. Brande.
  • DIGNITY
    In English law. An honor; a title, station, or distinction of honor. Dignities are a species of incorporeal hereditaments, in which a person may have a property or estate. 2 Bl. Comm. 37; 1 Bl. Comm. 396; 1 Crabb, Real Prop. 468, et seq.
  • DIJUDICATION
    Judicial decision or determination.
  • DILACION
    In Spanish law. A space of time granted to a party to a suit in which to answer a demand or produce evidence of a disputed fact
  • DILAPIDATION
    A species of ecclesiastical waste which occurs whenever the incumbent suffers any edifices of his ecclesiastical living to go to ruin or decay. It is either voluntary, by pulling down, or Dermls-slye, by suffering the church, parsonage* houses, and other buildings thereunto belonging, to decay. And the remedy for either More...
Showing 730 of 1146