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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  • SCINTILLA
    Lat. A spark; a remaining particle; the least particle. -Scintilla Juris. In real property law. A spark of right or interest. By this figurative expression was denoted the small particle of interest which, by a fiction of law, was supposed to remain in a feoffee to uses, sufficient to support More...
  • SCIRE FECI
    Lat. In practice. The name given to the sheriff's return to a writ of scire facias that he has caused notice to be given to the party or parties against whom the writ was issued. 2 Archb. Pr. K. B. 98, 99.
  • SCIRE FIERI INQUIRY
    In English law. The name of a writ formerly used to recover the amount of a judgment from an executor. Scire legos non boe est verba earunt tenere, sed vim ac potostatem. To know the laws is not to observe their mere words, but their force and power; [that is, More...
  • SCIRE FACIAS
    Lat. In practice, A judicial writ, founded upon some record, and requiring the person against whom It is brought to show cause why the party bringing it should not have advantage of such record, or (In the case of a scire facias to repeal letters patent) why the record should More...
  • SCIREWYTE
    In old English law. A tax or prestation paid to the sheriff for hold-nig the assizes or county courts. Cowell.
  • SCISSIO
    Lat. In old English law. A cutting. Scissio auricularum, cropping of the ears. An old punishment Fleta, lib. 1, c. 38, I 10.
  • SCITE, OR SITE
    The sitting or standing on any place; the seat or situation of a capital messuage, or the ground whereon it stands.1 Jacob.
  • SCOLD
    A troublesome and angry woman, who, by brawling and wrangling among her neighbors, breaks the public peace, increases discord, and becomes a public nuisance to the neighborhood. 4 Steph. Comm. 27-Common scold. One who, by the practice of frequent scolding, disturbs the neighborhood. Bish. Crim. Law, ? 147. A quarrelsome, More...
  • SCOT
    In old English law. A tax, or tribute; one's share of a contribution. -Scot and lot. In English law. The name of a customary contribution, laid upon all subjects according to their ability. Brown.-Scot and lot voters. In English law. Voters in certain boroughs entitled to the franchise in virtue More...
  • SCOTAL
    In old English law. An extortionate practice by officers of the forest who kept ale-houses, and compelled the people to drink at their houses for fear of their displeasure. Prohibited by the charter of the forest c. 7. Wharton.
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