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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  • FORTIA
    Force. In old English law. Force used by an accessary, to enable the principal to commit a crime, as by binding or holding a person while another killed him, or by aiding or counseling in any way, or commanding the act to be done. Bract fols. 138, 138b. According to More...
  • FORTILITY
    In old English law. A fortified place; a castle; a bulwark. Cowell; 11 Hen. VII. c. 18.
  • FORTIOR
    Lat. Stronger. A term applied, in the law of evidence, to that species of presumption, arising from facts shown in evidence, which is strong enough to shift the burden of proof to the opposite party. Burrill, Clrc. Ev. 64, 66. Fortlor est enstodia legis qnam horn-inls. 2 Rolle, 325. The More...
  • FORTIORI
    See A FORTIORI.
  • FORTIS
    Lat. Strong. Fortis et sand, strong and sound; staunch and strong; as a vessel. Townsh. PI. 227.
  • FORTLETT
    A place or port of some strength; a little fort. Did Nat Brev. 45.
  • FORTUIT
    In French law. Accidental; fortuitous. Cas forfait, a fortuitous event Fortuitmcnt, accidentally; by chance.
  • FORTUITOUS
    Accidental; undesigned; adventitious. Resulting from unavoidable physical causes. -Fortuitous collision. In maritime law. The accidental running foul of vessels. Peters v. Warren Ins. Co., 14 Pet. 112. 10 L. Ed. 3T1. --Fortuitous event. In the civil law. That which happens by a cause which cannot be resisted. An unforeseen occurrence, More...
  • FORTUNA
    Lat. Fortune; also treasure-trove. Jacob. . Fortnnam f aeiunt judieem. They make fortune the judge. Co. Litt. 167. Spoken of the process of making partition among coparceners by drawing lots for the several purparts*
  • FORTUNE-TELLERS
    In English law. Persons pretending or professing to tell fortunes, and punishable as rogues and vagabonds or disorderly persons. 4 Bl. Comm. 62.
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