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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  • SIGNUM
    Lat. In tne Roman and civil law. A sign; a mark; a seal. The seal of an Instrument. Calvin. A species of proof. By "signa" were meant those species of indicia which come more immediately under the cognizance of the senses; such as stains of blood on the person of More...
  • SILENCE
    The state of a person who does not speak, or of one who refrains from speaking. In the law of estoppel, "silence" Implies knowledge and an opportunity to act upon it. Pence v. Langdon, 09 U. S. 581, 25 L. Ed. 420; Stewart v. Wyoming Cattle Ranch Co., 128 U. More...
  • SILENTIARIUS
    In English law. One of the privy council; also an usher, who sees good rule and silence kept in court Wharton. ; SILK GOWN. Tsed especially of the gowns worn in England by king's counsel; hence, "to take silk" means to attain the rank of king's counsel. Mozley & Whitley.
  • SILVA
    Lat In the civil law. Wood; a wood.
  • SILVA CAEDUA
    In the civil law. That kind of wood which was kept for the purpose of being cut In English law. Under wood; coppice wood. 2 Inst 642; Cowell. All small wood and under timber, and likewise timber when cut down, under twenty years' growth; titheable wood. 3 Salk. 347.
  • SIMILAR
    This word is often used to denote a partial resemblance only; but it is also often used to denote sameness in all essential particulars. Thus, a statutory provision in relation to "previous conviction of a similar offense" may mean conviction of an offense Identical in kind Com. v. Fon-taln, 127 More...
  • SIMONY
    In English ecclesiastical law. The corrupt presentation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice for money, gift, or reward. 2 Bl. Comm. 278. An unlawful contract for presenting a clergyman to a benefice. The buying or selling of ecclesiastical preferments or of things pertaining to the ecclesiastical order. Hob. 167. More...
  • SIMPLA
    Lat In the civil law. The single value of a thing. Dig. 21, 2, 37, 2.
  • SIMILITER
    Lat In pleading. Likewise; the like. The name of the short formula used either at the end of pleadings or by itself, expressive of the acceptance of an issue of fact tendered by the opposite party; otherwise termed a "joinder in issue." Steph. PI. 57, 237. See Solomons v. Chesley, More...
  • SIMPLE
    Pure; unmixed; not compounded; not aggravated; not evidenced by sealed writing or record. As to simple "Assault," "Average," "Battery," "Blockade," "Bond." "Confession." "Contract," "Contract Debt," "Deposit," "Interest," "Larceny," "Obligation," "Trust," and "Warrandice," see those titles.
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