Legal Term Dictionary

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  • PRIME (VERB)
    v. To stand flrst or paramount; to take precedence or priority of; to outrank; as, in the sentence i4taxes prime all other liens."
  • PRIME SERJEANT
    In English law. The king's first Serjeant at law.
  • PRIMER
    A law French word, signifying first; primary. -Primer election. A term used to signify first choice; e. p., the right of tbe eldest coparcener to first choose a purpart.-Primer line. Cn suing out the writ or praecipe called a "writ of covenant" there was due to the crown, by ancient More...
  • PRIMICERIUS
    In old English law. The flrst of any degree of men. 1 Mon. Angl. 838.
  • PRIMITIAE
    In English law. First fruits; the first year's whole profits of a spiritual preferment 1 Bl. Comm. 284.
  • PRIMO BENEFICIO
    Lat A writ directing a grant of the first benefice in the sovereign's gift Cowell. Primo ezentienda est verbl Tie, me sermonis vitio obstrnatnr oratlo, atre lea sine argnmentis. Co. Litt 68. The full meaning of a word should be ascertained at the outset, in order that the sense may More...
  • PRIMO VENIENTI
    Lat To the'one flrst coming. An executor anciently paid debts as they were presented, whether the assets were sufficient to meet all debts or not Stlm. Law Gloss.
  • PRIMOGENITURE
    1. The state of being the first-born among several children of the same parents; seniority by birth in the same family. 8. The superior or exclusive right possessed by the eldest son, and particularly, his right to succeed to the estate of his ancestor, In right of his seniority by More...
  • PRIMOGENITUS
    Lat In old English law. A first-born or eldest son. Bract fol.
  • PRIMUM DECRETUM
    Lat In the canon law. The flrst decree; a preliminary decree granted on the non-appearance of a defendant, by which the plaintiff was put in possession of his goods, or of the thing itself which was demanded. Gilb. Forum Rom. 82.
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