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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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RANCHO
Sp. A small collection of men or their dwellings; a hamlet. As used, however, in Mexico and in the Spanish Taw formerly prevailing in California, the term signifies a ranch or large tract of land suitable for grazing purposes where horses or cattle are raised, and is distinguished from hacienda, More...

Sp. A small collection of men or their dwellings; a hamlet. As used, however, in Mexico and in the Spanish Taw formerly prevailing in California, the term signifies a ranch or large tract of land suitable for grazing purposes where horses or cattle are raised, and is distinguished from hacienda, a cultivated farm or plantation Less...
RANGE
In the government survey of the United States, this term is used to denote one of the divisions of a state, and designates a row or tier of townships as they appear on the map.

In the government survey of the United States, this term is used to denote one of the divisions of a state, and designates a row or tier of townships as they appear on the map. Less...
RANGER
In forest law. A sworn of fleer of the forest, whose office chiefly consists in three points: To walk daily through his charge to see, hear, and inquire as well of trespasses as trespassers in his bailiwick: to drive the beasts of the forest, both of venery and chace, out More...

In forest law. A sworn of fleer of the forest, whose office chiefly consists in three points: To walk daily through his charge to see, hear, and inquire as well of trespasses as trespassers in his bailiwick: to drive the beasts of the forest, both of venery and chace, out of the deafforested into the forested lands; and to present all trespassers of the forest at the next courts holden for the forest. Cowell. Less...
RANK
n. The order or place in which certain officers are placed in the army and navy, in relation to others. Wood v. U. S.f 15 Ct. CI. 158.

n. The order or place in which certain officers are placed in the army and navy, in relation to others. Wood v. U. S.f 15 Ct. CI. 158. Less...
RANK
adj. In English law. Excessive ; too large in amount; as a rank modus, 2 BL Comm. 30.

adj. In English law. Excessive ; too large in amount; as a rank modus, 2 BL Comm. 30. Less...
RANKING OF CREDITORS
Is the Scotch term for the arrangement of the property of a debtor according to the claims of the creditors, in consequence of the nature of their respective securities. Bell. The corresponding process in England is the marshalling of securities in a suit or action for redemption or foreclosure. Paterson.

Is the Scotch term for the arrangement of the property of a debtor according to the claims of the creditors, in consequence of the nature of their respective securities. Bell. The corresponding process in England is the marshalling of securities in a suit or action for redemption or foreclosure. Paterson. Less...
RANSOM
In international law. The redemption of captured property from the hands of an enemy, particularly of property captured at sea. 1 Kent, Comm. 104. A sum paid or agreed to be paid for the redemption of captured property. 1 Kent, Comm. 105. A "ransom," strictly speaking, is not a recapture More...

In international law. The redemption of captured property from the hands of an enemy, particularly of property captured at sea. 1 Kent, Comm. 104. A sum paid or agreed to be paid for the redemption of captured property. 1 Kent, Comm. 105. A "ransom," strictly speaking, is not a recapture of the captured property. It is'rather a purchase of the right of the captors at the time, be it what it may; or, more properly, it is a relinquishment of all the interest and benefit which the captors might acquire or consummate in the property, by a regular adjudication of a prize tribunal, whether it be an interest in rem. a lien, or a mere title to expenses. In this respect, there seems to be no difference between the case of a ransom of an enemy or a neutral. Maisonnaire v. Keating, 2 Gall. 325, Fed. Cas. No. 8,978. In old English law. A sum of money paid for the pardoning of some great offense. The distinction between ransom and amerciament is said to be that ransom was the redemption of a corporal punishment, while amerciament was a fine or penalty directly imposed, and not in lieu of another punishment Cowell; 4 Bl. Comm. 380; U. S. v. Griffin, 6 D. C. 57. Ransom was also a sum of money paid for the redemption of a person from captivity or imprisonment. Thus one of the feudal "aids'* was to ransom the lord's person if taken prisoner. 2 Bl. Comm. 63. -Ransom bill. A contract by which a captured vessel, in consideration of her release and of safe-conduct for a stipulated course and time, agrees to pay a certain sum as ransom. Less...
RAPE
In criminal law. The unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman by a man forcibly and against her will. Code Ga. f 4349; Gore v. State, 119 Ga. 418, 46 S. E. 671, 100 Am. St. Rep. 182; Maxey v. State, 66 Ark. 523, 52 S. W. 2; Croghan v. State, More...

In criminal law. The unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman by a man forcibly and against her will. Code Ga. f 4349; Gore v. State, 119 Ga. 418, 46 S. E. 671, 100 Am. St. Rep. 182; Maxey v. State, 66 Ark. 523, 52 S. W. 2; Croghan v. State, 22 Wis. 444; State v. Montgomery, 63 Mo. 298; People v. Crego, 70 Mich. 319, 38 N. W. 281; Felton v. State, 139 Ind. 531, 39 N. B. 231. In English law. An intermediate division between a shire and a hundred; or a division of a county, containing several hundreds. 1 Bl. Comm. 116; Cowell. Apparently peculiar to the county of Sussex. -Rape of the forest. In old English law. Trespass committed in a forest by violence. Cowell.-Rape-reeve. In English law. The chief officer of a rape, (g. v.) 1 Bl. Comm. 116. Less...
RAPINE
In criminal law. Plunder; pillage; robbery. In the civil law, rapina is defined as the forcible and violent taking ot another man's movable property with the criminal intent to appropriate it to the robber's own use. A praetorian action lay for this offense, in which quadruple damages were recoverable. Galus, More...

In criminal law. Plunder; pillage; robbery. In the civil law, rapina is defined as the forcible and violent taking ot another man's movable property with the criminal intent to appropriate it to the robber's own use. A praetorian action lay for this offense, in which quadruple damages were recoverable. Galus, lib. 3, ? 209; Inst. 4, 2; Mackeld. Rom. Law, f 481; Heinecc. Elem. * 1071. Less...
RAPPORT A SUCCESSION
In French law and in Louisiana. A proceeding similar to hotchpot; the restoration to the succession of such property as the heir may have received by way of advancement from the decedent, in order that an even division may be made among all the co-heirs. Civ. Code La. art. 1305.

In French law and in Louisiana. A proceeding similar to hotchpot; the restoration to the succession of such property as the heir may have received by way of advancement from the decedent, in order that an even division may be made among all the co-heirs. Civ. Code La. art. 1305. Less...

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