Legal Advice Banner

Legal Advice Mobile Banner

Connect one-on-one with a legal expert who will answer your question

Chat Now

Connect one-on-one with a legal expert who will answer your question

Chat Now

Ask a question, get an answer ASAP!

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.

Speak with a Lawyer 3

Speak with a Lawyer 4

Browse
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

PRE-EMPTION
In international law. The right of pre-emption is the right of a nation to detain the merchandise of strangers passing through her territories or seas, in order to afford to her subjects the preference of purchase. 1 Chit Com. Law, 103. In English law. The first buying of a thing. More...

In international law. The right of pre-emption is the right of a nation to detain the merchandise of strangers passing through her territories or seas, in order to afford to her subjects the preference of purchase. 1 Chit Com. Law, 103. In English law. The first buying of a thing. A privilege formerly enjoyed by the crown, of buying up provisions and other necessaries, by the intervention of the king's purveyors, for the use of his royal household, at an appraised valuation, in preference to all others, and even without consent of the owner. 1 Bl. Comm. 287; Garcia v. Callender, 125 N. Y. 307, 26 N. B. 283. In the United States, the right of preemption is a privilege accorded by the government to the actual settler upon a certain limited portion of the public domain, to purchase such tract at a fixed price to the exclusion of all other applicants. Nix v. Allen, 112 U. S. 129, 5 Sup. Ct. 70, 28 L. Ed. 675; Bray v. Ragsdale, 53 Mo. 170. -Pre-emption claimant. One who has settled upon land subject to pre-emption, with the intention to acquire title to it, and has complied, or is proceeding to comply, in good faith, with the requirements of the law to perfect his right to it. Hosmer v. Wallace, 97 U. S. 575, 581, 24 L. Ed. 1130.-Pre-emption entry. See ENTRY.-Pre-emption right. The right given to settlers upon the public lands of the United States to purchase them at a limited price in preference to others. Less...
PRE-EMPTIONER
One who, by settlement upon the public land, or by cultivation of a portion of it has obtained tbe right to purchase a portion of the land thus settled upon or cultivated, to the exclusion of all other persons. Dillingham v. Fisher, 5 Wis. 480. And see Doe v. Beck, More...

One who, by settlement upon the public land, or by cultivation of a portion of it has obtained tbe right to purchase a portion of the land thus settled upon or cultivated, to the exclusion of all other persons. Dillingham v. Fisher, 5 Wis. 480. And see Doe v. Beck, 106 Ala. 71, 19 South. 802. Less...
PREFECT
In French law. The name given to the public functionary who is charged in chief with the administration of the laws, in each department of the country. Merl. Repert See Crespin v. U. S., 168 U. S. 208, 18 Sup. Ct 53, 42 L. Ed. 438. The term is also More...

In French law. The name given to the public functionary who is charged in chief with the administration of the laws, in each department of the country. Merl. Repert See Crespin v. U. S., 168 U. S. 208, 18 Sup. Ct 53, 42 L. Ed. 438. The term is also used, in practically the same sense, in Mexico. But in New Mexico, a prefect is a probate judge. Less...
PREFER
To bring before; to prosecute; to try; to proceed with. Thus, preferring an indictment signifies prosecuting or trying an indictment. To give advantage, priority, or privilege; to select for first payment as to prefer one creditor over others.

To bring before; to prosecute; to try; to proceed with. Thus, preferring an indictment signifies prosecuting or trying an indictment. To give advantage, priority, or privilege; to select for first payment as to prefer one creditor over others. Less...
PREFERENCE
The act of an insolvent debtor who, in distributing his property or in assigning it for the benefit of his creditors, pays or secures to one or more creditors the full amount of their claims or a larger amount than they would be entitled to receive on a pro rata More...

The act of an insolvent debtor who, in distributing his property or in assigning it for the benefit of his creditors, pays or secures to one or more creditors the full amount of their claims or a larger amount than they would be entitled to receive on a pro rata distribution. Also the right held by a creditor, in virtue of some lien or security, to be preferred above others (i. e., paid flrst) out of the debtor's assets constituting the fund for creditors. See Plrie v. Chicago Title & Trust Co., 182 U. S. 438, 21 Sup. Ct 906, 45 U Ed. 1171; Ashby v. Steere, 2 Fed. Cas. 15; Chadbourne v. Harding, 80 Me. 580, 16 Aa 248; Chism v. Citizens' Bank, 77 Miss. 599, 27 South. 687; In re Ratllff (D. C.) 107 Fed. 80; In re Stevens, 38 Minn. 432, 38 N. W. 111. Less...
PREFERENCE SHARES
A term used in English law to designate a new issue of shares of stock in a company, which, to facilitate the disposal of them, are accorded a' priority or preference over the original shares. Such shares entitle their holders to a preferential dividend, so that a holder of them More...

A term used in English law to designate a new issue of shares of stock in a company, which, to facilitate the disposal of them, are accorded a' priority or preference over the original shares. Such shares entitle their holders to a preferential dividend, so that a holder of them is entitled to have the whole of his dividend (or so much thereof as represents the extent to which his shares are, by the constitution of the company, to be deemed preference shares) paid before any dividend is paid to the ordinary shareholders. Mozley A Whlt. Less...
PREFERENTIAL ASSIGNMENT
An assignment of property for the benefit of creditors, made by an Insolvent debtor, in which it is directed that a preference (right to be paid first in full) shall be given to a creditor or creditors therein named.

An assignment of property for the benefit of creditors, made by an Insolvent debtor, in which it is directed that a preference (right to be paid first in full) shall be given to a creditor or creditors therein named. Less...
PREFERRED
Possessing or accorded a priority, advantage, or privilege. Generally denoting a prior or superior claim or right of payment as against another thing of the same kind or class. See State v. Oheraw & C. R. Co., 16 S. G. 528. -Preferred creditor. A creditor whom the debtor has directed More...

Possessing or accorded a priority, advantage, or privilege. Generally denoting a prior or superior claim or right of payment as against another thing of the same kind or class. See State v. Oheraw & C. R. Co., 16 S. G. 528. -Preferred creditor. A creditor whom the debtor has directed shall be paid before other creditors.-Preferred debt. A demand which has priority; which is payable in full before others are paid at all.-Preferred dividend. See DIVIDEND.-Prof erred stock. See STOCK. Less...
PREGNANCY
In medical jurisprudence. The state of a female who has within her ovary or womb a fecundated germ, which gradually becomes developed in the latter receptacle. DungL Med. Diet. -Pregnancy, plea of. A plea which a woman capitally convicted may plead in stay of execution; for this, though it is More...

In medical jurisprudence. The state of a female who has within her ovary or womb a fecundated germ, which gradually becomes developed in the latter receptacle. DungL Med. Diet. -Pregnancy, plea of. A plea which a woman capitally convicted may plead in stay of execution; for this, though it is no stay of judgment, yet operates as a respite of execution until she is delivered. Brown. Less...
PREGNANT NEGATIVE
See NEGATIVE PREGNANT

See NEGATIVE PREGNANT Less...

Showing 10970 of 14636

Legal Dictionary

Legal Resources

Top Legal Categories

Accident Law

Accident Law

Accident Law Basics, Motorcycle Accident Law, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Slip and Fall Accidents, Wrongful Death and

more

Bankruptcy Law

Bankruptcy Law

Bankruptcy Law Basics, Consumer Bankruptcy, Business Bankruptcy, Debt & Collections, Credit Problems and

more

Business Law

Business Law

Business Law Basics, Starting A Business, Types of Businesses, Naming A Business and

more

Child Custody Law

Child Custody

Child Custody Law Basics, Child Custody Procedure, Child Visitation, Father’s Rights, Modifying A Child Order and

more

Child Support Law

Child Support

Child Support Basics, Child Support Calculation, Failure to Pay Child Support, Modifying Child Support, and

more

Criminal Law

Criminal Law

Criminal Law Basics, Arrests and Searches, Drug Charges, Drunk Driving, Marijuana Laws, Juvenile Laws and

more

Divorce Law

Divorce

Divorce Law Basics, Types of Divorce, Property Distribution and

more

Drunk Driving Law

Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving Law Basics, DUI Checkpoints, DUI Testing, DUI Defenses and

more

Employment Labor Law

Employment Labor Law

Employment/ Labor Law Basics, Hiring & Firing, Wage & Hour, Job Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Workers Compensation and

more

Estate Planning Law

Estate Planning

Estate Planning Basics, Elder Law, Living Wills, Probate, Trusts, Wills, and

more

Family Law

Family Law

Family Law Basics, Adoption, Divorce Law, Child Custody, Child Support, Spousal Support, Marriage and

more

Immigration Law

Immigration Law

Immigration Law Basics, Asylum, Citizenship, Green Cards, Permanent Residents, Visas and

more

Injury Law

Injury Law

Personal Injury Law Basics, Defective Products, Dangerous Drugs, Property Damage and

more

Landlord Tenant

Landlord Tenant

Real Estate Law Basics, Commercial Real Estate, Foreclosure, Landlord Tenants, Mortgages, Residential Real Estate, Zoning and

more

Real Estate Law

Real Estate Law

Real Estate Law Basics, Commercial Real Estate, Foreclosure, Landlord Tenants, Mortgages, Residential Real Estate, Zoning and

more

Social Security Law

Social Security Law

Social Security Law Basics, Applying for Benefits, Eligibility and

more

Traffic Law

Traffic Law

Traffic Law Basics, License Suspension, Traffic Court, Traffic Violations and

more