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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  • RETRACTUS AQUAE
    Lat The ebb or return of a tide. Cowell.
  • RETRACTUS FEUDALIS
    L. Lat. In old Scotch law. The power which a superior possessed of paying off a debt due to an ad-Judging creditor, and taking a conveyance to the adjudication. BelL
  • RETRAIT
    Fr. In old French and Canadian law. The taking back of a fief by the seignior, in case of alienation by the vassal. A right of pre-emption by the seignior, in case of sale of the land by the grantee.
  • RETRAXIT
    Lat In practice. An open and voluntary renunciation by a plaintiff of his suit in court, made when the trial is called on, by which he forever loses his action, or is barred from commencing another action for the same cause. 3 Bl. Comm. 296; 2 Archb. Pr. K. B. More...
  • RETREAT TO THE WALL
    In tbe law relating to homicide in self-defense, this phrase means that the party must avail himself of any apparent and reasonable avenues of escape by which his danger might be averted, and the necessity of slaying his assailant avoided. People v. lams, 57 Cat 120.
  • RETRIBUTION
    This word is sometimes used in law, though not commonly in modern times, as the equivalent of "recompense," or a payment or compensation for services, property, use of an estate, or other value received.
  • RETRO
    Lat. Back; backward; behind. Retrofeodum, a rerefief, or arriete fief. Spelman.
  • RETROACTIVE
    has the same meaning aa "retrospective," (q. v.)
  • RETROCESSION
    In the civil law. When the assignee of heritable rights conveys his rights back to the cedent, it la called a "retrocession." Ersk. Inst. 3, 5,1.
  • RETTE
    L. Fr. An accusation or charge. St Westm. 1, c. 2.
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