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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  • POSTMASTER
    An officer of the United States, appointed to take charge of a local post-office and transact the business of receiving and forwarding tbe mails at that point and such other business as Is commit* ted to him under the postal laws. -Postmaster general. The head of the post-office department He More...
  • POSTNATI
    Those born after. See POST NATUS.
  • POSTPONE
    To put off; defer; delay; continue; adjourn; as when a hearing is postponed. Also to place after; to set below something else; as when an earlier lien Is for some reason post potted to a later lien; The word "postponement," in speaking of legal proceedings, is nearly equivalent to "continuance;" More...
  • POSTREMO-GENITURE
    Borough-English, (q.v.)
  • POSTULATIO
    Lat In Roman law. A request or petition. This was the name of the first step in a criminal prosecution, corresponding somewhat to "swearing out a warrant" in modern criminal law. The accuser appeared before the praetor, and stated his desire to Institute criminal proceedings against a designated person, and More...
  • POT-DE-VIN
    In French law. A sum of money frequently paid, at the moment of entering Into a contract beyond the price agreed upon. It differs from arrha, in this: that it is no part of the price of the thing sold, and that the person who has received It cannot by More...
  • POTENTATE
    A person who possesses great power or sway; a prince, sovereign, or monarch. By the naturalization law of the United States, an alien is required to renounce all allegiance to any foreign "prince, potentate, or sovereign whatever."
  • POTENTIA
    Lat Possibility; power. -Potentia propinqua. Co ran? on possibility. See POSSIBILITY. Potentia debet seqni justitiam, non antecedere. 8 Bulst 199. Power ought to follow Justice, not go before it Potentia est duplex, remota et propinqna; et potentia remotisstma et Tana est quse nunqnam venlt in aotum. 11 Coke, 51. Possibility More...
  • POTENTIAL
    Existing in possibility out not In act; naturally and probably expected to come into existence at some future time, though not now existing; for example, the future product of grain or trees already planted, or the successive future Instalments or payments on a contract or engagement already made. Things having More...
  • POTESTAS
    Lat In the civil law. Power; authority; domination; empire. Im-pcrium* or the jurisdiction of magistrates. The power of the father over his children* patria potestas. The authority of masters over their slaves. See Inst 1, 9, 12; Dig. 2, 1,13,1; Id, 14, 1; Id. 14, 4,1, 4. Potestas strlote interpretatnr. More...
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