Legal Term Dictionary

One who is united with others in an ill design; an associate; a confederate; an accomplice.

One who is united with others in an ill design; an associate; a confederate; an accomplice. Less...

Sound of mind. Having use and control of one's mental faculties.

Sound of mind. Having use and control of one's mental faculties. Less...

Having the use of one's limbs, or the power of bodily motion. SI fuit ita compos sui quod itinerate potuit de loco in locum, if he had so far the use of his limbs as to be able to travel from place to place. Bract, fol. 14b.

Having the use of one's limbs, or the power of bodily motion. SI fuit ita compos sui quod itinerate potuit de loco in locum, if he had so far the use of his limbs as to be able to travel from place to place. Bract, fol. 14b. Less...

The ordinance of measures. The title of an ancient ordinance, not printed, mentioned In the statute 23 Hen. VIII. c 4; establishing a standard of measures. 1 Bl. Comm. 275.

The ordinance of measures. The title of an ancient ordinance, not printed, mentioned In the statute 23 Hen. VIII. c 4; establishing a standard of measures. 1 Bl. Comm. 275. Less...

The statute of ells and perches. The title of an English statute establishing a standard of measures. 1 Bl. Comm. 275.

The statute of ells and perches. The title of an English statute establishing a standard of measures. 1 Bl. Comm. 275. Less...

An agreement, made upon a sufficient consideration, between an Insolvent or embarrassed debtor and his creditors, whereby the latter, for the sake of immediate payment, agree to accept a dividend less than the whole amount of their claims, to be distributed pro rata, In discharge and satisfaction of the whole. More...

An agreement, made upon a sufficient consideration, between an Insolvent or embarrassed debtor and his creditors, whereby the latter, for the sake of immediate payment, agree to accept a dividend less than the whole amount of their claims, to be distributed pro rata, In discharge and satisfaction of the whole. Bank v. McGeoch, 92 Wis. 286, 66 N. W. 606; Crossley v. Moore, 40 N. J. Law, 27; Crawford v. Krueger, 201 Pa. 348, 50 Atl. 931; In re Merrlman's Estate, 17 Fed. Cas. 131; Chapman v. Mfg. Co., 77 Me. 210; In re Ad-ler (D. C) 303 Fed. 444. "Composition" should be distinguished from "accord." The latter properly denotes an arrangement between a debtor and a single creditor for a discharge of the obligation by a part payment or on different terms. The former esignates an arrangement between a debtor and the whole body of his creditors (or at least a considerable proportion of them) for the liquidation of their claims by the dividend offered. In ancient law. Among the Franks, Goths, Burgundians, and other barbarous peoples, this was the name given to a sum of money paid, as satisfaction for a wrong or personal injury, to the person harmed, or to his family if he died, by the aggressor. It was originally made by mutual agreement of the parties, but afterwards established by law, and took the place of private physical vengeance. —Composition deed. An agreement embodying the terms of a composition between a debtor and his creditors.—Composition in bankruptcy. An arrangement between a bankrupt and his creditors, whereby the amount he can be expected to pay is liquidated, and he is allowed to retain his assets, upon condition of his making the payments agreed upon.—Composition of matter. In patent law. A mixture or chemical combination of materials. Goodyear v. Railroad Co., 10 Fed. Cas. 664; Cahill v. Brown, 4 Fed. Cas. 1005; Jacobs v. Baker. 7 Wall. 295, 19 L. Ed. 200.—Composition of tithes, or real composition. This arises in English ecclesiastical law, when an agreement is made between the owner of lands and the incumbent of a benefice, with the consent of the ordinary and the patron, that the lands shall, for the future, be discharged from payment of tithes, by reason of some land or other real recompense given in lieu and satisfaction thereof. 2 Bl. Comm. 28; 3 Steph. Comm. 129. Less...

In old English law. A party accounting. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 71, | 17.

In old English law. A party accounting. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 71, | 17. Less...

v. To compromise; to effect a composition with a creditor; to obtain discharge from a debt by the payment of a smaller sum. Bank v. Malheur County, 30 Or. 420, 45 Pac. 781, 35 L. R. A. 341; Haskins v. Newcomb, 2 Johns. (N. Y.) 405; Pennell v. Rhodes, 9 More...

v. To compromise; to effect a composition with a creditor; to obtain discharge from a debt by the payment of a smaller sum. Bank v. Malheur County, 30 Or. 420, 45 Pac. 781, 35 L. R. A. 341; Haskins v. Newcomb, 2 Johns. (N. Y.) 405; Pennell v. Rhodes, 9 Q. B. 114. Less...

Interest upon interest, i. e., when the interest of a sum of money is added to the principal, and then bears Interest, which thus becomes a sort of secondary principal. Camp v. Bates, 11 Conn. 487; Woods v. Rankin, 2 Heisk. (Tenn.) 46; U. S. Mortg. Co. v. Sperry (C. More...

Interest upon interest, i. e., when the interest of a sum of money is added to the principal, and then bears Interest, which thus becomes a sort of secondary principal. Camp v. Bates, 11 Conn. 487; Woods v. Rankin, 2 Heisk. (Tenn.) 46; U. S. Mortg. Co. v. Sperry (C. C.) 26 Fed. 730. Less...

In Louisiana. The maker of a composition, generally called the "amicable compounder."

In Louisiana. The maker of a composition, generally called the "amicable compounder." Less...