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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  • SEMAYNE'S CASE
    This case decided, in 1604, that "every man's house [meaning his dwelling-house only] is his castle," and that an officer executing civil process may not break open outer doors in general, but only inner doors, but that (after request made) he may break open even outer doors to find goods More...
  • SEMBLE
    L. Fr. It seems; it would appear. This expression is often used in the reports to preface a statement by the court upon a point of law which is not directly decided, when such statement is intended as an intimation of what the decision would be if the point were More...
  • SEMESTRIA
    Lat. In the civil law. The collected decisions of the emperors in 'their councils'.
  • SEMI-MATRIMONIUM
    Lat In Roman law. Half-marriage. Concubinage was so called. Tayl. CivH Law, 4W3. .
  • SEMI-PLENA PROBATIO
    Lat. In the civil law. Half-full proof; half-proof. 3 Bl. Comm. .370. See HALF-PROOF.
  • SEMINARIUM
    Lat. In the civil law. A nursery of trees. Dig. 7, 1, 9, 6.
  • SEMINARY
    A place of education. Any school, academy, college, or university in which young persons are Instructed in the several branches of learning which may qualify them for their future employments. Webster. The word is said to have acquired no fixed and definite legal meaning. See Chegaray v. New York, 13 More...
  • SEMINAUFRAGIUM
    Lat In maritime law. Half-shipwreck, as where goods are cast overboard in a storm; also where a ship has been so much damaged that her repair costs more than her worth. Wharton.
  • SEMITA
    In old English law. A path. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 52, ? 20.
  • SEMPER
    Lat Always. A word which introduces several Latin maxims, of which some are also used without this prefix. Semper in dnbiis benigniora praefe-renda snnt. In doubtful cases, the more favorable constructions are always to be preferred. Dig. 50, 17, 56. Semper in dnbiis id agendum est, nt qnam tntissimo looo More...
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