Legal Term Dictionary

A document presented to a legislative body, or to the executive, by one or more individuals, containing a petition or a representation of facts. In English law. That which contains the particulars of a deed, etc., and is the instrument registered, as in the case of an annuity which must More...

A document presented to a legislative body, or to the executive, by one or more individuals, containing a petition or a representation of facts. In English law. That which contains the particulars of a deed, etc., and is the instrument registered, as in the case of an annuity which must be registered. Wharton. In practice* A short note, abstract memorandum, or rough draft of the orders of the court, from which the records thereof may at any time be fully made up. State v. Shaw, 73 Vt 149, 50 Ati. 863. Less...

Lat From memory; by or from recollection. Thus, memoriter proof of a written instrument is such as is furnished by the recollection of a witness who had seen and known it

Lat From memory; by or from recollection. Thus, memoriter proof of a written instrument is such as is furnished by the recollection of a witness who had seen and known it Less...

Committing anything to memory. Used to describe the act of one who listens to a public representation ot a play or drama, and then, from his recollection of Its scenes, incidents, or language, reproduces it substantially or in part ia derogation of the rights of the author. See 5 Term More...

Committing anything to memory. Used to describe the act of one who listens to a public representation ot a play or drama, and then, from his recollection of Its scenes, incidents, or language, reproduces it substantially or in part ia derogation of the rights of the author. See 5 Term R. 245; 14 Amer. Law Reg. (N. S.) 207. Less...

Mental capacity; the mental power to review and recognize the successive states of consciousness in their consecutive order. This word, as used in Jurisprudence to denote one of the psychological elements necessary in the making of a valid will or contract or the commission of a crime, implies the mental More...

Mental capacity; the mental power to review and recognize the successive states of consciousness in their consecutive order. This word, as used in Jurisprudence to denote one of the psychological elements necessary in the making of a valid will or contract or the commission of a crime, implies the mental power to conduct a consecutive train of thought, or an orderly planning of affairs, by recalling correctly the past states of the mind and past events, and arranging them In their due order of sequence and In their logical relations with the events and mental states of the present Tbe phrase "sound and disposing mind and memorjr" means not merely distinct recollection of the items of one's property and the persons among whom it may be* given, but entire power of mind to dispose of property by will. Abbott. Also the reputation and name, good or bad, which a man leaves at his death. -Legal memory. An ancient usage, custom, supposed grant (as a foundation for prescription) and tbe like, are said to be immemorial when they are really or fictitiously of such an ancient date that "the memory of man runneth not to the contrary," or, in other words, "beyond legal memory." And legal memory or "time out of mind," according to the rule of the common law, commenced from tbe reign of Richard I., A. D. 1189. But under the statute of limitation of 32 Hen. VIII. this was reduced to 60 years, and again by that of 2 & 3 Wm. IV. c. 71. to 20 years. In the American states, by statute, the time of legal memory is generally fixed at a period corresponding to that prescribed for actions for the recovery of real property, usually about 20 years. See 2 Bl. Comm. 31; Miller v. Gar-lock, 8 Barb. (N. Y.) 153. Less...

Men who used in former days to ply about courts of law, so called from their manner of making known their occupation, (*. c, by a straw in one of their shoes,) recognized by the name of "straw-shoes." An advocate or lawyer who wanted a convenient witness knew by these More...

Men who used in former days to ply about courts of law, so called from their manner of making known their occupation, (*. c, by a straw in one of their shoes,) recognized by the name of "straw-shoes." An advocate or lawyer who wanted a convenient witness knew by these signs where to meet with one, and the colloquy between the parties was brief. 'Don't you remember?" said the advocate; to which the ready answer was, "To be sure I do." "Then come into court and swear it." And straw-shoes went into court and swore. Athens abounded in straw-shoes. Quart Rev. vol. 33, p. 344. Less...

A threat; the declaration or show of a disposition or determination to inflict an evil or Injury upon another. Gumming v. State, 09 Ga. 662, 27 S. E. 177; Morrill v. Nightingale, 93 Cal. 452, 28 Pac. 1068, 27 Am. St Rep. 207.

A threat; the declaration or show of a disposition or determination to inflict an evil or Injury upon another. Gumming v. State, 09 Ga. 662, 27 S. E. 177; Morrill v. Nightingale, 93 Cal. 452, 28 Pac. 1068, 27 Am. St Rep. 207. Less...

In old Scotch law. A stock-horn; a horn made of wood, "with circles and girds of the same." Skene.

In old Scotch law. A stock-horn; a horn made of wood, "with circles and girds of the same." Skene. Less...

A servant of the lowest order; more strictly, a domestic servant living under his master's roof. Boniface v. Scott, 3 Serg. & R. (Pa.) 354.

A servant of the lowest order; more strictly, a domestic servant living under his master's roof. Boniface v. Scott, 3 Serg. & R. (Pa.) 354. Less...

Lat. Mind; intention; meaning; understanding; will. -Mens legis. The mind of the law; that is, the purpose, spirit, or intention of a law or the law generally.-Mens legislator!*. The intention of the law-maker.-Mens rea. A guilty mind; a guilty or wrongful purpose; a criminal intent Mens testatoris in testamentis spec-tan More...

Lat. Mind; intention; meaning; understanding; will. -Mens legis. The mind of the law; that is, the purpose, spirit, or intention of a law or the law generally.-Mens legislator!*. The intention of the law-maker.-Mens rea. A guilty mind; a guilty or wrongful purpose; a criminal intent Mens testatoris in testamentis spec-tan da est. Jenk. Cent. 277. The intention of the testator is to be regarded in wills. Less...

Lat. Patrimony or goods and necessary things for livelihood. Jacob. A table; the table of a money-changer. Dig. 2, 14, 47. -Mensa et thoro. From bed and board. See DIVORCE.

Lat. Patrimony or goods and necessary things for livelihood. Jacob. A table; the table of a money-changer. Dig. 2, 14, 47. -Mensa et thoro. From bed and board. See DIVORCE. Less...