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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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DAMNOSA HAEREDITAS
In the civil law. A losing inheritance; an inheritance that was a charge, instead of a benefit. Dig. 50, 16, 119. The term has also been applied to that species of property of a bankrupt which, so far from being valuable, would be a charge to the creditors; for example, More...

In the civil law. A losing inheritance; an inheritance that was a charge, instead of a benefit. Dig. 50, 16, 119. The term has also been applied to that species of property of a bankrupt which, so far from being valuable, would be a charge to the creditors; for example, a term of years where the rent- would exceed the revenue. 7 East, 342; 3 Camp. 340; 1 Esp. N. P. 234; Provident L. A Trust Co. v. Fidelity, etc., Co., 203 Pa. 82, 52 Atl. 34. Less...
DAMNUM
Lat. In the civil law. Damage; the loss or diminution of -what Is a man's own, either by fraud, carelessness, or accident In pleading and old English law. Damage; loss. -Damnum fatale. Fatal damage; damage from fate; loss happening from a cause beyond human control, {quod ex fato contingit,) or More...

Lat. In the civil law. Damage; the loss or diminution of -what Is a man's own, either by fraud, carelessness, or accident In pleading and old English law. Damage; loss. -Damnum fatale. Fatal damage; damage from fate; loss happening from a cause beyond human control, {quod ex fato contingit,) or an act of God, and for which bailees are not liable; such as shipwreck, lightning, and the like. Dig. 4. 9, 3. 1; Story, Bailm. ft 4(J5. The civilians included in the phrase "damnum fatale" all those accidents which are summed up in the common-law expression, "Act of God or public enemies;" though, perhaps, it embraced some which would not now be admitted as occurring from an irresistible force. Thickstun v. Howard. 8 Blackf. (Ind.) 535.--Damnum infectum. In Roman law. Damage not yet committed, but threatened or impending. A preventive interdict might be obtained to prevent such damage from happening; and it was treated as a quasi-delict, because of the imminence of the danger.-pamnum rei amisssd. In the civil law. A loss arising from a payment made by a party in' consequence of an error of law. Mackeld. Rom. Law. ? 178. Less...
DAMNUM ABSQUE INJURIA
Loss, hurt, or harm without injury in the legal sense, that Is, without such an invasion of rights as is redressihle by an action. A loss which does not give rise to an action of damages against the person causing it; as where a person blocks up the windows of More...

Loss, hurt, or harm without injury in the legal sense, that Is, without such an invasion of rights as is redressihle by an action. A loss which does not give rise to an action of damages against the person causing it; as where a person blocks up the windows of a new house overlooking his land, or injures a person's trade by setting up an establishment of the same kind in the neighborhood. Broom, Com. Law, 75; Marbury v. Madison, 1< Crauch, 164, 2 L. Ed. 60; West Virginia Trauspt Co. v. Standard Oil Co., 50 W. Va. 611, 40 S. E. 591, 56 L. R. A. 804. 88 Am. St. Ref>. 895; Irwin v. Askew, 74 Ga. 581; ' Chase v. Silverstone, 62 Me. 175, 16 Am. Rep. 419; Lumber Co. v. IT. S.. 69 Fed. 32*, 1C C. C. A. 460. Damnum sine injuria esse potest. Lofft. 112. There may be damage or injury inflicted without any act of injustice. Less...
DAN
Anciently the better sort of men in England had this title; so the Spanish Don. The old term of honor for men, as we now say Master or Mister. Wharton.

Anciently the better sort of men in England had this title; so the Spanish Don. The old term of honor for men, as we now say Master or Mister. Wharton. Less...
DANEGELT, DANEGELD
A tribute of 1s. and afterwards of 2s. upon every hide of land through the realm, levied by the Anglo-Saxons, for maintaining such a number of forces as were thought sufficient to clear the British seas of Danish pirates, who greatly annoyed their coasts. It continued a tax until the More...

A tribute of 1s. and afterwards of 2s. upon every hide of land through the realm, levied by the Anglo-Saxons, for maintaining such a number of forces as were thought sufficient to clear the British seas of Danish pirates, who greatly annoyed their coasts. It continued a tax until the time of Stephen, and was one of the rights of the crown. Wharton. Less...
DANELAGE
A system of laws Introduced by the Danes on their invasion and conquest of England, and which was principally maintained in some of the midland counties, and also on the eastern coast. 1 BL Comm. 65: 4 Bl. Comm. 411: 1 Stenh. Comm. 42.

A system of laws Introduced by the Danes on their invasion and conquest of England, and which was principally maintained in some of the midland counties, and also on the eastern coast. 1 BL Comm. 65: 4 Bl. Comm. 411: 1 Stenh. Comm. 42. Less...
DANGER
Jeopardy; exposure to loss or injury; peril. U. S. v. Mays, 1 Idaho, 770. -Dangers of navigation. The same as "dangers of the sea" or "perils of the sea." See tn/ra.-Dangers of the river. This phrase, as used in bills of lading, means only the natural accidents Incident to river More...

Jeopardy; exposure to loss or injury; peril. U. S. v. Mays, 1 Idaho, 770. -Dangers of navigation. The same as "dangers of the sea" or "perils of the sea." See tn/ra.-Dangers of the river. This phrase, as used in bills of lading, means only the natural accidents Incident to river navigation, and does not embrace such as may be avoided by the exercise of that skill, judgment, or foresight which are demanded from persons in a particular occupation. 35 Mo. 213, It includes dangers arising from unknown reefs which have suddenly formed in the channel, and are not discoverable by care and skill. ??' Hill v. Sturgeon. 35 Mo. 213, 86 Am. Dec. 149;' Garrison v. Insurance Co., 19 How. 312. 15 L. Ed. 656; Hibernia Ins. Co. v. Transn. Co.. 120 U. S. 166, 7 Sup. Ct. 550, 30 L. Ed. 621; Johnson v. Friar, 4 Yerg. 48, 26 Am. Dec. 215>-Dangers of the road. This phrase, in a bill of lading, when it refers to inland transportation, means such dangers as are immediately caused by roads, as the overturning of carriages in rough and' precipitous places. 7 Exch. 743. -Dangers of the sea. The expression "dangers of the sea" means those' accidents peculiar to navigation that are of an extraordinary nature, or arise from irresistible force or overwhelming power, which cannot be guarded against by the ordinary exertions of human skill and prudence. Walker v. Western Transp. Co., 3 Wall. 150. 18 L. Ed. 172: The Portsmouth, 9 Wall. 682. 19 L. Ed. 754; Hibernia Ins. Co. v. Transn. Co.. 120 IT. S. 166. 7 Sup. Ct. 550. 30 L. Ed. 621; Hill v. Sturgeon, 28 Mo. 327. ' Less...
DANGERIA
In old English law. A money payment made by forest-tenants, that they might have liberty to plow and sow in time of pannage, or mast feeding.

In old English law. A money payment made by forest-tenants, that they might have liberty to plow and sow in time of pannage, or mast feeding. Less...
DANGEROUS WEAPON
One dangerous to life; one by the use of which a fatal wound may prohahly or possibly be given. As the manner of use enters into the consideration as well as other circumstances, the question is for the jury. U. S. v. Reeves, (C. C.) 38 Fed. 404; State v. More...

One dangerous to life; one by the use of which a fatal wound may prohahly or possibly be given. As the manner of use enters into the consideration as well as other circumstances, the question is for the jury. U. S. v. Reeves, (C. C.) 38 Fed. 404; State v. Hammond, 14 S. D. 545, 86 N. W. 627; State v. Lynch, 88 Me. 195, 33 Atl. 978; State v. Scott, 39 La. Ann. 943, 3 South. 83. Less...
DANISM
The act of lending money on usury.

The act of lending money on usury. Less...

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