Legal Term Dictionary

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  • PATERNITY
    The fact of being a father ; the relationship of a father. The Latin "paternitas" is used in the canon law to denote a kind of spiritual relation- . ship contracted by baptism. Heinecc. Elem. lib. 1, tit. 10, ? 161, note.
  • PATHOLOGY
    In medical jurisprudence. The science or doctrine of diseases. That part of medicine which explains the nature of diseases, their causes, and their symptoms. See Bacon v. U. S. Mut Acc. Ass'n, 123 N. Y. 304, 25 N. E. 399, 9 L. R. A: 617, 20 Am. St. Rep. 748.
  • PATIBULARY
    Belonging to the gallows.
  • PATIBULATED
    Hanged on a gibbet.
  • PATIBULUM
    In old English law. A gallows or gibbet. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 3, ? 9.
  • PATIENS
    Lat. One who suffers or permits; one to whom an act is done; the passive party in a transaction.
  • PATRIA
    Lat The country, neighborhood, or vicinage; the men of the neighborhood ; a Jury of the vicinage. Synonymous, in this sense, with "pais." Patria laborious et ezpensis non debet fatigari. A jury ought not to be harassed by labors and expenses. Jenk. Cent 6.
  • PATRIA POTESTAS
    Lat In Roman law. Paternal authority; the paternal power. This term denotes the aggregate of those peculiar powers and rights which, by tbe civil law of Rome, belonged to the head of a family in respect to his wife, children, (natural or adopted,) and any more remote descendants who sprang More...
  • PATRIARCH
    The chief bishop over several countries or provinces, as an archbishop is of several dioceses. Godb. 20.
  • PATRICIDE
    One who has killed his father. As to the punishment of that offense by the Roman law, see Sandars Just Inst <5th Ed.) 496.
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