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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  • SPURIUS
    Lat. In the civil law. A bastard; the offspring of promiscuous cohabitation.
  • SPY
    A person sent into an enemy's camp to inspect their works, ascertain their strength and their intentions, watch their movements, and secretly communicate intelligence to the proper officer. By the laws of war among all civilized nations, a spy is punished with death. Webster. See Vattel, 3, 179.
  • SQUARE
    As used to designate a certain portion of land within the limits of a city or town, this term may be synonymous with "block," that is, the smallest subdivision which is bounded on all sides by principal streets, or it may denote a space (more or less rectangular) not built More...
  • SQUATTER
    In American law. One who settles on another's land, particularly on public lands, without a title. See O'Donnell v. Mclntyre, 16 Abb. N. C. (N. Y.) 84; Park-ersburg Industrial Co. v. Schultz, 43 W. Va. 470, 27 S. E. 255.
  • SQUIRE
    A contraction of "esquire."
  • SS
    An abbreviation used in that part of a record, pleading, or affidavit, called the "statement of the venue." Commonly translated or read, "to-wit," and supposed to be a contraction of "scilicet." Also In ecclesiastical documents, particularly records of early councils, "ss" is used as an abbreviation for subscripsi. Occasionally, in More...
  • STAB
    A wound Inflicted by a thrust with a pointed weapon. State v. Cody, 18 Or. 506, 23 Pac. 891; Ward v. State, 56 Ga. 410; Ruby v. State, 7 Mo. 208.
  • STABILIA
    A writ called by that name, founded on a custom In Normandy, that where a man in power claimed lands in the possession of an inferior, he petitioned the prince that it might be put into his hands till the right was decided whereupon he had this writ Wharton. Stabit More...
  • STABLE-STAND
    In forest law. One of the four evidences or presumptlops whereby a man was convicted of an intent to steal the king's deer in the forest. This was when a man was found at his standing in the forest with a cross-bow or long-bow bent, ready to shoot at any More...
  • STABULARIUS
    Lat. In the civil law. A stable-keeper. Dig. 4, 9, 4, 1.
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