Legal Term Dictionary

Lat Nothing. A contracted form of "nihil," which see. -Nil debet. He owes nothing. The form of the general issue in all actions of debt on simple contract.-Nil babuit in tenemontis. He had nothing [no interest] in the tenements. A plea in debt on a lease indented, by which the More...

Lat Nothing. A contracted form of "nihil," which see. -Nil debet. He owes nothing. The form of the general issue in all actions of debt on simple contract.-Nil babuit in tenemontis. He had nothing [no interest] in the tenements. A plea in debt on a lease indented, by which the defendant seta up that the person claiming to be landlord had no title or interest-Nil lig-atum. Nothing bound; that is, no obligation has been incurred. Tray. Lat Max. Nil agit enemplum litem qnod 'ute re-solvit. An example does no good which settles one question by another. Hatch v. Mann, 15 Wend. (N. Y.) 44, 49. Nil oensensui tam eontrarium est qnam vis atqne metus. Nothing is so opposed to consent as force and fear. Dig. 50, 17, 116. Nil faoit error nominis cum de oospore vel persona constat. A mistake in the name does not matter when the body or person is manifest 11 Coke, 21; Broom, Max. 634. Nil sine prudent! fecit ratione vetnstas. Antiquity did nothing without a good reason. Co. Litt 65. Nil temere novandum. Nothing should be rashly changed. Jenk. Cent. 163. Ntmia certitudo certitudinen ipsam destmit. Too great certainty destroys certainty itself. Lofft, 244. Nimia subtilitas in jure reprobatnr. Wing. Max. 26. Too much subtlety in law Is discountenanced. Nimium altercando Veritas amittitur. Hob. 344. By too much altercation truth is lost. Less...

A thief; a pilferer.

A thief; a pilferer. Less...

Lat. Unless. The word is often affixed, as a kind of elliptical expression, to the words "rule," "order," "decree," "judgment," or "confirmation," to indicate that the adjudication spoken of is one* which is to stand as valid and operative unless the party affected by it shall appear and show cause More...

Lat. Unless. The word is often affixed, as a kind of elliptical expression, to the words "rule," "order," "decree," "judgment," or "confirmation," to indicate that the adjudication spoken of is one* which is to stand as valid and operative unless the party affected by it shall appear and show cause against it, or take some other appropriate step to avoid it or procure its revocation. Thus a "decree nisf* is one which will definitely conclude the defendant's rights unless, within the prescribed time, he shows cause to set it aside or successfully appeals. The word, In this sense, Is opposed to "absolute." And when a rule nisi is finally confirmed, for the defendant's failure to show cause against it, it is said to be "made absolute." -Nisi feoeris. The name of a clause commonly occurring in the old manorial writs, commanding that, if the lords failed to do justice, the king's court or officer should do it By virtue of this clause, the king's court usurped the jurisdiction of the private, manorial, or local courts. Stim. Law Gloss.-Nisi prius. The nisi prius courts are such as are held for the trial of issues of fact before a jury and one presiding judge. In America the phrase is familiarly used to denote the forum (whatever may be its statutory name) in which the cause was tried to a jury, as distinguished from the appellate court. See 3 Bl. Comm. 58.-Nisi prius clause. In practice. A clause entered on the record in an action at law, authorising the trial of the cause at nisi prius in the particular county designated. It was first used by way of continuance.-Nisi prius roll. In practice. The roll or record containing the pleadings, Issue, and iury process of an action, made up for use in the nisi prius court.-Nisi prius writ. The old name of the writ of venire, which originally, in pursuance of the statute of Westminster 2, contained the nisi prius clause. Reg. Jud. 28, 75; Cowell. Less...

In old English law. Welshmen, because they live near high mountains covered with snow. Du Cange.

In old English law. Welshmen, because they live near high mountains covered with snow. Du Cange. Less...

The name of a plea in an action on an award, by which the defendant traverses the allegation that an award was made.

The name of a plea in an action on an award, by which the defendant traverses the allegation that an award was made. Less...

This phrase, when indorsed by a grand jury on an indictment, is equivalent to "not found," "not a true bill," or "tynoramus."

This phrase, when indorsed by a grand jury on an indictment, is equivalent to "not found," "not a true bill," or "tynoramus." Less...

See FUND.

See FUND. Less...

This is the English equivalent of the Latin term "nulla bona," being the form of the return made by a sheriff or constable, charged with an execution, when he has found no property of the debtor on which to levy. No man ean hold the same land immediately of two More...

This is the English equivalent of the Latin term "nulla bona," being the form of the return made by a sheriff or constable, charged with an execution, when he has found no property of the debtor on which to levy. No man ean hold the same land immediately of two several landlords. Co. Litt 152. No man is presumed to do anything against nature. 22 Yin. Abr. 154. No man shall set up his infamy as a defense. 2 W. Bl. 304. No one can grant or convey what he does, not own. Seymour v. Canandalgua & N. P. R. Co., 25 Barb. (N. Y.) 284, 301. See Saltus v. Everett, 20 Wend. (N. Y.) 267, 32 Am. Dec. 541; Fassett v. Smith, 23 N. Y. 252; Brower v. Peabody, 13 N. Y. 121; Beavers v. Lane, 6 Duer (N. Y.) 232. Less...

In Scotch law. An equitable power of the court of session, to give relief when none is possible at law. Ersk. Inst. 1, 3> 22; Bell. Nobiles magis pleotuntnr peouniai plebes vero in corpore. 3 Inst. 220. The higher classes are more punished in money; but the lower in person. More...

In Scotch law. An equitable power of the court of session, to give relief when none is possible at law. Ersk. Inst. 1, 3> 22; Bell. Nobiles magis pleotuntnr peouniai plebes vero in corpore. 3 Inst. 220. The higher classes are more punished in money; but the lower in person. Nobiles sunt, qui arma gentllitin an-teoessornm suorum prof erre possunt. 2 Inst 595. The gentry are those who are able to produce armorial bearings derived by descent from their own .ancestors. Nobillores et benigniores prsasump* tiones in dnbiis sunt proferendss* In cases of doubt, the more generous and more benign presumptions are to be preferred. A civil-law maxim. Nobilltas est duplex, superior et inferior. 2 Inst 583. There are two sorts of nobility, the higher and the lower. Less...

In English law. A division of the people, comprehending dukes. marquises, earls,. viscounts, and barons. These had anciently duties annexed to their respective honors. They are created either by writ, i. e., by royal summons to attend the house of peers, or by letters patent, i. e., by royal grant More...

In English law. A division of the people, comprehending dukes. marquises, earls,. viscounts, and barons. These had anciently duties annexed to their respective honors. They are created either by writ, i. e., by royal summons to attend the house of peers, or by letters patent, i. e., by royal grant of any dignity and degree Of peerage; and they enjoy many privileges, exclusive of their senatorial capacity. 1 BL Comm. 396. Less...