Legal Term Dictionary

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  • ESPEDIENT
    In Spanish law. A junction of all the separate papers made in the course of any one proceeding and which remains in the office at the close of it. Castillero v. U. S., 2 Black (U. S.) 109, 17 L. Ed. 360.
  • ESPLEES
    An old term for the products which the ground or land yields; as the hay of the meadows, the herbage of the pasture, corn of arable fields, rent and services, etc. The word has been anciently applied to the land itself. Jacob; Fosgate v. Hydraulic Co., 9 Barb. (N. Y.) More...
  • ESPOUSALS
    A mutual promise between a man and a woman to marry each other at some other time. It differs from a marriage, because then the contract is completed. Wood, Inst. 57.
  • ESPURIO
    Span. In Spanish law. A spurious child; one begotten on a woman who has promiscuous intercourse with many men. White, New Recop. b. 1, tit. 5, c. 2, s 1.
  • ESQUIRE
    In English law. A title of dignity next above gentleman, and below knight. Also a title of office given to sheriffs, serjeants, and barristers at law, justices of the peace, and others. 1 Bl. Comm. 406; 3 Steph. Comm. 15, note; Tomlins. On the use of this term in American More...
  • ESSARTER
    L. Fr. To cut down woods to clear land of trees and underwood; properly to thin woods, by cutting trees, etc., at Intervals. Spelman.
  • ESSARTUM
    Woodlands turned into tillage by uprooting the trees and removing the underwood.
  • ESSENCE
    That which is indispensable to that of which it is the essence. -Essence of the contract. Any condition or stipulation in a contract which is mutually understood and agreed by the parties to be of such vital importance that a sufficient performance of the contract cannot be had without exact More...
  • ESSENDI QUIETUM DE TOLONIO
    A writ to be quit of toll; it lies for citizens and burgesses of any city or town who, by charter or prescription, ought to be exempted from toll, where the same Is exacted of them. Reg. Orig. 258.
  • ESSOIN
    v. In old English practice. To present or offer an excuse for not appearing in court on an appointed day in obedience to a summons; to cast an essoin. Spelman. This was anciently done by a person whom the party sent for that purpose, called an "essoiner."
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