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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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PERPETUATING TESTIMONY
A proceeding for taking and preserving the testimony of witnesses, which otherwise might be lost before the trial in which it is Intended to be used. It is usually allowed where the witnesses are aged and infirm or are about to remove from the state. 3 Bl. Comm. 450.

A proceeding for taking and preserving the testimony of witnesses, which otherwise might be lost before the trial in which it is Intended to be used. It is usually allowed where the witnesses are aged and infirm or are about to remove from the state. 3 Bl. Comm. 450. Less...
PERPETUITY
A future limitation, whether executory or by way of remainder, and of either real or personal property, which, is not to vest until after the expiration of or will not necessarily vest within the period fixed and prescribed by law for the creation of future estates and interests, and which More...

A future limitation, whether executory or by way of remainder, and of either real or personal property, which, is not to vest until after the expiration of or will not necessarily vest within the period fixed and prescribed by law for the creation of future estates and interests, and which Is not destructible by the persons for the time being entitled .to the property subject to the future limitation, except with the concurrence of the individual interested under that limitation. Lewis, Perp. 164; 52 Law Lib. 139. Any limitation tending to take the subject of it out of commerce for a longer period than a life or lives in being, and twenty-one years beyond, and, in case of a posthumous child, a few months more, allowing for the term of gestation. Rand. Perp. 48. Such a limitation of property as renders it unalienable beyond the period allowed by law. Gilb. Uses, (Sugd* Ed.) 260. And see Ould v. Washington Hospital, 95 U. S. 303, 24 L. Ed. 450; Duggan v. Slocum, 92 Fed. 806, 34 C. C. A. 676; Waldo v. Cummings, 45 111. 421; Franklin v. Armfield, 2 Sneed (Tenn.) 354; Stevens v. Annex Realty Co., 173 Mo. 511, 73 S. W. 505; Griffin v. Graham, 8 N. C. 130, 9 Am. Dec. 619; In re John's Will, 30 Or. 494, 47 Pac. 341, 36 L. R. A. 242. Less...
PERPETUITY OF THE KING
That fiction of the English law which for certain political purposes ascribes to the king in his political capacity the attribute of immortality; for, though the reigning monarch may die, yet by this fiction the king never dies, i. c, the office is supposed to be reoccupied for all political More...

That fiction of the English law which for certain political purposes ascribes to the king in his political capacity the attribute of immortality; for, though the reigning monarch may die, yet by this fiction the king never dies, i. c, the office is supposed to be reoccupied for all political purposes immediately on iris death. Brown. Less...
PERQUISITES
In its most extensive sense, "perquisites" signifies anything obtained by industry or purchased with money, different from that which descends from a father or ancestor. Bract 1. 2, c. 30, n. 3. Profits accruing to a lord of a manor by virtue of his court-baron, over and above the yearly More...

In its most extensive sense, "perquisites" signifies anything obtained by industry or purchased with money, different from that which descends from a father or ancestor. Bract 1. 2, c. 30, n. 3. Profits accruing to a lord of a manor by virtue of his court-baron, over and above the yearly profits of his land; also other things that come casually and not yearly. Mozley A Whitley. In modern use. Emoluments or incidental profits attaching to an office or official position, beyond the salary or regular fees. Delaplane v. Crenshaw, 15 Grat Less...
PERQUISITIO
Purchase. Acquisition by one's own act or agreement and not by descent.

Purchase. Acquisition by one's own act or agreement and not by descent. Less...
PERQUISITOR
In old English law. A purchaser; one who first acquired an estate to his family; one who acquired an estate by sale, by gift or by any other method, except only that of descent 2 Bl. Comm. 220.

In old English law. A purchaser; one who first acquired an estate to his family; one who acquired an estate by sale, by gift or by any other method, except only that of descent 2 Bl. Comm. 220. Less...
PERSECUTIO
Lat. In the civil law. A following after; a pursuing at law; a suit or prosecution. Properly that kind of judicial proceeding before the prietor which was called "extraordinary." In a general sense, any judicial proceeding, including not only "actions," (actiones,) properly so called, but other proceedings also. Calvin.

Lat. In the civil law. A following after; a pursuing at law; a suit or prosecution. Properly that kind of judicial proceeding before the prietor which was called "extraordinary." In a general sense, any judicial proceeding, including not only "actions," (actiones,) properly so called, but other proceedings also. Calvin. Less...
PERSEQUI
Lat. In the civil law. To follow after; to pursue or claim in form of law. An action is called a "jus persequendi."

Lat. In the civil law. To follow after; to pursue or claim in form of law. An action is called a "jus persequendi." Less...
PERSON
A man considered according to the rank he holds in society, with all the rights to which the place he holds entitles him, and the duties which it Imposes. 1 Bouv. Inst .no. 137. A human being considered as capable of having rights and of being charged with duties; while More...

A man considered according to the rank he holds in society, with all the rights to which the place he holds entitles him, and the duties which it Imposes. 1 Bouv. Inst .no. 137. A human being considered as capable of having rights and of being charged with duties; while a "thing" is the object over which rights may be exercised. -Artificial persons. Such as are created and devised by law for the purposes of society and government, called "corporations" or "bodies politic."-Natural persons. Such as are formed by nature, as distinguished from artificial persons, or corporations.-Private person. An individual who is not the incumbent of an office. Less...
PERSONA
Lat In tne civil law. Character, in virtue of which certain rights belong to a man and certain duties are imposed upon him. Thus one man may unite many characters, (persona?,) as, for example, the characters of father and son, of master and servant Mackeld. Rom. Law, | 129. In More...

Lat In tne civil law. Character, in virtue of which certain rights belong to a man and certain duties are imposed upon him. Thus one man may unite many characters, (persona?,) as, for example, the characters of father and son, of master and servant Mackeld. Rom. Law, | 129. In ecclesiastieal law. The rector of a church instituted and inducted, for his own life, was called "persona mortalis;" and any collegiate or conventual body, to whom the church was forever appropriated, was termed "persona immortalis" Jacob. -Persona deeignata. A person pointed out or described as an individual, as opposed to a person ascertained as a member of a class, or as filling a particular character.-Persona eoelesia). The parson or personation of the church.-Persona non grata. In international law and diplomatic usage, a person not acceptable (for reasons peculiar to himself) to the court or government to which it is proposed to accredit him in the character of an ambassador or minister.-Persona standi in Judicio. Capacity of standing in court or in judgment; capacity to be a party to an action; capacity or ability to sue. Persona oonjunota s"quiparatur Interesse proprio. A personal connection [literally, a united person, union with a person! is equivalent to one's own Interest; nearness of blood is as good a consideration as one's own interest. Bac. Max. 72, reg. Persona est homo onm statu qnodam oonsideratus. A person is a man considered with reference to a certain status. Heinecc. Elem. L 1, tit 3, S 75. Persona regis mergitur persona duels. Jenk. Cent 160. Tbe person of duke merges in that of king. Less...

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