Legal Advice Banner

Legal Advice Mobile Banner

Connect one-on-one with a legal expert who will answer your question

Chat Now

Connect one-on-one with a legal expert who will answer your question

Chat Now

Ask a question, get an answer ASAP!

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.

Speak with a Lawyer 3

Speak with a Lawyer 4

Browse
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

CONTEST
To make defense to an adverse claim In a court of law; to oppose, resist or dispute the case made by a plaintiff. Pratt v. Breckinridge, 112 Ky. 1, 65 S. W. 136; Parks v. State, 100 Ala. 634, 13 South. 75a —Contestation of suit. In an ecclesiastical cause, that More...

To make defense to an adverse claim In a court of law; to oppose, resist or dispute the case made by a plaintiff. Pratt v. Breckinridge, 112 Ky. 1, 65 S. W. 136; Parks v. State, 100 Ala. 634, 13 South. 75a —Contestation of suit. In an ecclesiastical cause, that stage of the suit which is reached when the defendant has answered the libel by giving in an allegation.—Contested election. This phrase has no technical or legally defined meaning. An election may be said to be contested whenever an objection is formally urged against it which, if found to be true In fact, would invalidate it. This is true both as to objections founded upon some constitutional provision and to such as are based on statutes. Robertson v. State, 109 Ind. 116, 10 N. E. 600. Less...
CONTESTATIO LITIS
In Roman law. Contestation of suit; the framing an issue; joinder in issue. The formal act of both the parties with which the proceedings in jure were closed when they led to a judicial investigation, and by which the neighbors whom the parties brought with them were called to testify. More...

In Roman law. Contestation of suit; the framing an issue; joinder in issue. The formal act of both the parties with which the proceedings in jure were closed when they led to a judicial investigation, and by which the neighbors whom the parties brought with them were called to testify. Mackeld. Rom. Law, { 219. In old English law. Coming to an issue; the issue so produced. Crabb, Eng. Law, 216. Contestatio litis egot tormtnos contra-diotarios. An issue requires terms of contradiction. Jenk. Cent 117. To constitute an Issue, there must be an affirmative on one side and a negative on the other. Less...
CONTEXT
The context of a particular sentence or clause in a statute, contract will, etc., comprises those parts of the text which immediately precede and follow it. The context may sometimes be scrutinized, to aid in the interpretation of an obscure passage. '

The context of a particular sentence or clause in a statute, contract will, etc., comprises those parts of the text which immediately precede and follow it. The context may sometimes be scrutinized, to aid in the interpretation of an obscure passage. ' Less...
CONTIGUOUS
In close proximity; in actual close contact Touching; bounded or traversed by. The term is not synonymous with "vicinal." Plaster Co. v. Campbell, 89 Va. 396, 16 S. E. 274; Bank v. Hopkins, 47 Kan. 580, 28 Pac. 606, 27 Am. St. Rep. 309; Raxedale v. Seip, 32 La. Ann. More...

In close proximity; in actual close contact Touching; bounded or traversed by. The term is not synonymous with "vicinal." Plaster Co. v. Campbell, 89 Va. 396, 16 S. E. 274; Bank v. Hopkins, 47 Kan. 580, 28 Pac. 606, 27 Am. St. Rep. 309; Raxedale v. Seip, 32 La. Ann. 435; Arkell v. Insurance Co., 69 N. Y. 191, 25 Am. Rep. 168. Less...
CONTINENCIA
In Spanish law. Con-tinency or unity of the proceedings In a cause. White, New Recop. b. 3, tit. 6, c. L

In Spanish law. Con-tinency or unity of the proceedings In a cause. White, New Recop. b. 3, tit. 6, c. L Less...
CONTINENS
In the Roman law. Oontlnnlng; holding together. Adjoining buildings were said to be continentia. 1

In the Roman law. Oontlnnlng; holding together. Adjoining buildings were said to be continentia. 1 Less...
CONTINENTAL
Pertaining or relating to a continent; characteristic of a continent; as broad in scope or purpose as a continent Continental Ins. Co. v. Continental Fire Ass'n (C. C.) 96 Fed. 848. —Continental congress. The first national legislative assembly in the United States, which met in 1774, in pursuance of a More...

Pertaining or relating to a continent; characteristic of a continent; as broad in scope or purpose as a continent Continental Ins. Co. v. Continental Fire Ass'n (C. C.) 96 Fed. 848. —Continental congress. The first national legislative assembly in the United States, which met in 1774, in pursuance of a recommendation made by Massachusetts and adopted by the other colonies. In this congress all the colonies were represented except Georgia. The delegates were in some cases chosen by the legislative assemblies in the states; in others by the people directly. The powers of the congress were undefined, but it proceeded to take measures and pass resolutions which concerned the general welfare and had regard to the inauguration and prosecution of the war for independence. —Continental currenoy. Paper money issued under the authority of the continental congress. Wharton v. Morris, 1 Dall. 125, 1 L. Ed. 65. Less...
CONTINENTIA
In old English practice. Continuance or connection. Applied to the proceedings in a cause. Bract fol. 362b.

In old English practice. Continuance or connection. Applied to the proceedings in a cause. Bract fol. 362b. Less...
CONTINGENCY
An event that may or may not happen, a doubtful or uncertain future event. The quality of being contingent. A fortuitous event, which comes without design, foresight or expectation. A contingent expense must be deemed to be an expense depending upon some future uncertain event. People v. Yonkers, 39 Barb. More...

An event that may or may not happen, a doubtful or uncertain future event. The quality of being contingent. A fortuitous event, which comes without design, foresight or expectation. A contingent expense must be deemed to be an expense depending upon some future uncertain event. People v. Yonkers, 39 Barb. (N. Y.) 272. —Contingency of a process. In Scotch law. Where two or more processes are so connected that the circumstances of the one are likely to throw light on the others, the process first enrolled is considered as the leading process, and those subsequently brought into court, if not brought in the same division, may be remitted to it, ob contingentiam, on account of their nearness or proximity in character to it. The effect of remitting processes in this manner is merely to bring them before the same division of the court or same lord ordinary. In other respects they remain distinct. Bell.—Contingency with double aspect. A remainder is said to be "in a contingency with double aspect" when there is another remainder limited on the same estate, not in derogation of the first but as a substitute for it in case it should fail Fearne, Rem. 373. Less...
CONTINGENT
Possible, but not assured; doubtful or uncertain, conditioned upon the occurrence of some future event which la itself uncertain, or questionable. Verdier v. Roach, 96 Cal. 467, 31 Pac. 554. This term, when applied to a use, remainder, devise, bequest, or other legal right or interest implies that no present More...

Possible, but not assured; doubtful or uncertain, conditioned upon the occurrence of some future event which la itself uncertain, or questionable. Verdier v. Roach, 96 Cal. 467, 31 Pac. 554. This term, when applied to a use, remainder, devise, bequest, or other legal right or interest implies that no present interest exists, and that whether such interest or right ever will exist depends upon a future uncertain event Jemison v. Blowers, 5 Barb. Less...

Showing 3040 of 14636

Legal Dictionary

Legal Resources

Top Legal Categories

Accident Law

Accident Law

Accident Law Basics, Motorcycle Accident Law, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Slip and Fall Accidents, Wrongful Death and

more

Bankruptcy Law

Bankruptcy Law

Bankruptcy Law Basics, Consumer Bankruptcy, Business Bankruptcy, Debt & Collections, Credit Problems and

more

Business Law

Business Law

Business Law Basics, Starting A Business, Types of Businesses, Naming A Business and

more

Child Custody Law

Child Custody

Child Custody Law Basics, Child Custody Procedure, Child Visitation, Father’s Rights, Modifying A Child Order and

more

Child Support Law

Child Support

Child Support Basics, Child Support Calculation, Failure to Pay Child Support, Modifying Child Support, and

more

Criminal Law

Criminal Law

Criminal Law Basics, Arrests and Searches, Drug Charges, Drunk Driving, Marijuana Laws, Juvenile Laws and

more

Divorce Law

Divorce

Divorce Law Basics, Types of Divorce, Property Distribution and

more

Drunk Driving Law

Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving Law Basics, DUI Checkpoints, DUI Testing, DUI Defenses and

more

Employment Labor Law

Employment Labor Law

Employment/ Labor Law Basics, Hiring & Firing, Wage & Hour, Job Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Workers Compensation and

more

Estate Planning Law

Estate Planning

Estate Planning Basics, Elder Law, Living Wills, Probate, Trusts, Wills, and

more

Family Law

Family Law

Family Law Basics, Adoption, Divorce Law, Child Custody, Child Support, Spousal Support, Marriage and

more

Immigration Law

Immigration Law

Immigration Law Basics, Asylum, Citizenship, Green Cards, Permanent Residents, Visas and

more

Injury Law

Injury Law

Personal Injury Law Basics, Defective Products, Dangerous Drugs, Property Damage and

more

Landlord Tenant

Landlord Tenant

Real Estate Law Basics, Commercial Real Estate, Foreclosure, Landlord Tenants, Mortgages, Residential Real Estate, Zoning and

more

Real Estate Law

Real Estate Law

Real Estate Law Basics, Commercial Real Estate, Foreclosure, Landlord Tenants, Mortgages, Residential Real Estate, Zoning and

more

Social Security Law

Social Security Law

Social Security Law Basics, Applying for Benefits, Eligibility and

more

Traffic Law

Traffic Law

Traffic Law Basics, License Suspension, Traffic Court, Traffic Violations and

more