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.

Search
  • COUNTEE
    In old English law. The most eminent dignity of a subject before the Conquest. He was prwfectus or propositus comitatus, and had the charge and custody of the county; but this authority Is now vested in the sheriff. 9 Coke, 46.
  • COUNTENANCE
    In old English law. Credit; estimation. Wharton. Also, encouragement; aiding and abetting. Cooper v. Johnson, 81 Mo. 487.
  • COUNTER
    n. The name of two prisons formerly standing in London, but now demolished. They were the Poultry Counter and Wood Street Counter.
  • COUNTER
    adj. Adverse; antagonistic; opposing or contradicting; contrary. Silli-man v. Eddy, 8 How. Prac. (N. T.) 122. —Counter-affidavit. An affidavit made and presented in contradiction or opposition to an affidavit which is made the basis or support of a motion or application.—Counter-bond. In old practice. A bond of indemnity. 2 Leon. More...
  • COUNTER-CLAIM
    A claim presented by a defendant in opposition to or deduction from the claim of the plaintiff. A species of set-off or recoupment introduced by the codes of civil procedure in several of the states, of a broad and liberal character. A counter-claim must be one "existing in favor of More...
  • COUNTERFEIT
    In criminal law. To forge; to copy or imitate, without authority or right, and with a view to deceive or defraud, by passing the copy or thing forged for that which is original or genuine. Most commonly applied to the fraudulent and criminal imitation of money. State v. Mc-Kenzle, 42 More...
  • COUNTER-FESANCE
    The act of forging.
  • COUNTERMAND
    A change or revocation of orders, authority, or instructions previously issued. It may be either express or implied; the former where the order or instruction already given is explicitly annulled or recalled; the latter where the party's conduct is incompatible with the further continuance of the order' or Instruction, as More...
  • COUNTERPART
    In conveyancing. The corresponding part of an instrument; a duplicate or copy. Where an instrument of conveyance, as a lease, is executed in parts, that is, by having several copies or duplicates made and Interchangeably executed, that which is executed by the grantor is usually called the "original," and the More...
  • COUNTER-PLEA
    See PLEA.
Showing 3260 of 14636