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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  • ONEROUS
    A contract, lease, share, or other right is said to be "onerous" when the obligations attaching to it counter-balance or exceed the advantage to be derived from it, either absolutely or with reference to the particular possessor. Sweet. As used in the civil law and In the systems derived from More...
  • ONOMASTIC
    A term applied to the signature of an instrument, the body of which is in a different handwriting from that of the signature.. Beet, Ev. 315.
  • ONROERENDE AND VAST STAAT
    Dutch. Immovable and fast estate, that is, land or real estate. The phrase Is used in Dutch wills, deeds, and antenuptial contracts of the early colonial period in New York. See Spraker v. Van Alstyne, 18 Wend. (N. Y.) 208.
  • ONUS
    Lat A burden or load; a weight The lading, burden, or cargo of a vessel. A charge; an incumbrance. Cum onere, (q. v.) with the incumbrance. -Onus episeopale. Ancient customary payments from the clergy to their diocesan bishop, of synodals, pentecostals, etc.-Onus impor-tandL The charge of importing merchandise, mentioned in More...
  • OPE OONSILIO
    Lat By aid and counsel. A civil law term applied to accessaries, similar in import to the "aiding and abetting" ,of ,the common law. Often written "ope et consilio." BurrUl.
  • OPEN (VERB)
    v. To render accessible, visible, or available; to submit or subject to examination, inquiry, or review, by the removal of restrictions or impediments. -Open a case. In practice. To open a case is to begin it; to make an initiatory explanation of its features to the court, jury, referee, etc., More...
  • OPEN(ADJ.)
    adj. Patent; visible; apparent'; notorious; not clandestine; not closed, set* tied, fixed, or terminated. ---Open bulk. In the mass; exposed to view; not tied or sealed up. In re Sanders (C. CA 52 Fed. 802, 18 L. R. A. 549.-Open court. This term may mean either a court which has More...
  • OPENING
    In American practice. The beginning; the commencement; the flrst address of the counsel.
  • OPENTIDE
    The time after corn is carried out of the fields.
  • OPERA
    A composition of a dramatic hind, set to music and sung, accompanied with musical instruments, and enriched with appropriate costumes, scenery, etc. The house In which operas are represented is termed an "opera-house." Rowland v. Kleber, 1 Pittsb. R. (Pa.) 7L
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