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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  • SWEIN
    In old English law. A freeman or freeholder within the forest.
  • SWEINMOTE
    In forest law. A court holden before the verderors, as judges, by the steward of the sweinmote, thrice in every year, the sweins or freeholders within the forest composing the jury. Its principal jurisdiction was-First, to inquire into the oppressions and grievances committed by the officers of the forest; and, More...
  • SWELL
    To enlarge or increase. In an action of tort circumstances of aggravation may ''swell" the damages.
  • SWIFT WITNESS
    A term colloquially applied to a witness who is unduly zealous or partial for the side which calls him, and who betrays his bias by his extreme readiness to answer questions or volunteer information.
  • SWINDLING
    Cheating and defrauding grossly with deliberate artifice. Wyatt v. Ayres, 2 Port (Ala.) 157; Forrest v. Hanson, 9 Fed. Cas. 456; Thorpe v. State, 40 Tex. Cr. R. 346, 50 S. W. 383; Chase v. Whitlock, 3 Hill (N. Y.) 140; Stevenson v. Hayden, 2 Mass. 408. By the statute, More...
  • SWOLING OF LAND
    So much land as one's plow can till in a year; a hide of land. Cowell.
  • SWORN BROTHERS
    In old English law. Persons who, by mutual oaths, covenant to share in each, other's fortunes.
  • SWORN CLERKS IN CHANCERY
    Certain officers in the English court of chancery, whose duties were to keep the records, make copies of pleadings, etc. Their offices were abolished by St 5 ft 6 Vict c, 103.
  • SYB AND SOM
    A Saxon form of greeting, meaning peace and safety.
  • SYLLABUS
    A head-note; a note prefixed to the report of an adjudged case, containing an epitome or brief statement of the rulings of the court upon the point or points decided in the case. See Koonee v. DoolIt-tie, 48 W. Va. 592, 37 S. B. 645,
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