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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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HOSTES
Lat. Enemies. Hostes humanl generis, enemies of the human race; i. e., pirates. Hostes sunt qui nobis vel quibus nos bellum decernimus; ossteri proditores vel prsedones sunt. 7 Coke, 24. Enemies are those with whom we declare war, or who declare it against us; all others are traitors or pirates.

Lat. Enemies. Hostes humanl generis, enemies of the human race; i. e., pirates. Hostes sunt qui nobis vel quibus nos bellum decernimus; ossteri proditores vel prsedones sunt. 7 Coke, 24. Enemies are those with whom we declare war, or who declare it against us; all others are traitors or pirates. Less...
HOSTIA
In old records. The host-bread, or consecrated wafer, in the eucharist. Cowell.

In old records. The host-bread, or consecrated wafer, in the eucharist. Cowell. Less...
HOSTICIDE
One who kills an enemy.

One who kills an enemy. Less...
HOSTILARIA, HOSPITALARIA
A place or room in religious houses used for the reception of guests and strangers.

A place or room in religious houses used for the reception of guests and strangers. Less...
HOSTILE
Having the character of an enemy; standing in the relation of an enemy. See 1 Kent Comm. c. 4. -Hostile embargo. One laid upon the vessels of an actual or prospective enemy.-Hostile possession. This term as applied to an occupant of real estate holding adversely, is not construed as implying More...

Having the character of an enemy; standing in the relation of an enemy. See 1 Kent Comm. c. 4. -Hostile embargo. One laid upon the vessels of an actual or prospective enemy.-Hostile possession. This term as applied to an occupant of real estate holding adversely, is not construed as implying actual enmity or ill will, but merely means that he claims to hold the possession in the character of an owner, and therefore denies all validity to claims set up by any and all other persons. Ballard v. Hansen, 33 Neb. 8G1, 51 N. W. 295; Griffin v. Mulley, 167 Pa. 339, 81 Atl. 664.-Hostile witness.. A witness who manifests so much hostility or prejudice under examination in chief that the party who has called him, or his representative. Is allowed to cross-examine him, i. e., to treat him as though he had been called by the opposite party. Wharton. Less...
HOSTILITY
In the law of nations. A state of open war. "At the breaking out of hostility." 1 Kent Comm. 60. An act of open war. "When hostilities have commenced." Id. 56. A hostile character. "Hostility may attach only to the person." Id.

In the law of nations. A state of open war. "At the breaking out of hostility." 1 Kent Comm. 60. An act of open war. "When hostilities have commenced." Id. 56. A hostile character. "Hostility may attach only to the person." Id. Less...
HOSTLER
In Norman and old English law, this was the title of the officer in a monastery charged with the entertainment of guests. It was also applied (until about the time of Queen Elizabeth) to an innkeeper, and afterwards, when the keeping of horses at livery became a distinct occupation, to More...

In Norman and old English law, this was the title of the officer in a monastery charged with the entertainment of guests. It was also applied (until about the time of Queen Elizabeth) to an innkeeper, and afterwards, when the keeping of horses at livery became a distinct occupation, to the keeper of a livery stable, and then (under the modern form "ostler") to the groom in charge of the stables of an inn. Cromwell v. Stephens, 2 Daly (N. Y.) 20. In the language of railroading, an "ostler" or "hostler" at a roundhouse is one whose duty it is to receive locomotives as they come in from the road, care for them in the roundhouse, and have them cleaned and ready for departure when wanted. Railroad Co. v. Mas-slg, 50 111. App. 666; Railroad Go. v. Ashling, 34 111. App. 105; Grannis v. Railroad Co., 81 Iowa, 444, 46 N. W. 1067. Less...
HOT-WATER ORDEAL
In old English law. This was a test in cases of accusation, by hot water; the party accused and suspected being appointed by the judge to put his arms up to the elbows in seething hot water, which, after sundry prayers and invocations, he did, and was, by the effect More...

In old English law. This was a test in cases of accusation, by hot water; the party accused and suspected being appointed by the judge to put his arms up to the elbows in seething hot water, which, after sundry prayers and invocations, he did, and was, by the effect which followed, judged guilty or innocent. Wharton. Less...
HOTCHPOT
The blending and mixing property belonging to different persons, in order to divide it equally. 2 BL Comm. 190. Anciently applied to the mixing and blending of lands given to one daughter in frank marriage, with those descending to her and her sisters in fee-simple, for the purpose of dividing More...

The blending and mixing property belonging to different persons, in order to divide it equally. 2 BL Comm. 190. Anciently applied to the mixing and blending of lands given to one daughter in frank marriage, with those descending to her and her sisters in fee-simple, for the purpose of dividing the whole equally among them; without which the daughter who held in frank marriage could have no share In the lands in fee-simple. Litt 267, 268; Co. Litt. 177"; 2 Bl. Comm. 190. Hotchpot, or the putting in hotchpot, is applied in modern law to the throwing the amount of an advancement made to a particular child, in real or personal estate, into the common stock, for the purpose of a more equal division, or of equalizing the shares of all the children. 2 Kent Comm. 421, 422. This answers to or resembles the collatio bonorum, or collation of the civil law. See Law v. Smith, 2 R. I. 249; Ray v. Loper, 65 Mo. 472; Jackson v. Jackson, 28 Miss. 680, 64 Am. Dec. 114;. Thompson v. Carmichael, 8 Sandf. Ch. (N. Y.) 120. Less...
HOTEL
An inn; a public house or tavern; a house for entertaining strangers or travelers. St. Louis v. Siegrist, 46 Mo. 594; People v. Jones, 54 Barb. (N. Y.) 316; Cromwell v. Stephens, 2 Daly (N. Y.) 19. -Synonyms. In law, there is no difference whatever between the terms "hotel," "inn," More...

An inn; a public house or tavern; a house for entertaining strangers or travelers. St. Louis v. Siegrist, 46 Mo. 594; People v. Jones, 54 Barb. (N. Y.) 316; Cromwell v. Stephens, 2 Daly (N. Y.) 19. -Synonyms. In law, there is no difference whatever between the terms "hotel," "inn," and "tavern." except that in some states a statutory definition has been given to the word "hotel, especially with reference to the grant of licenses to sell liquor, as, that it shall contain a certain number of separate rooms for the entertainment of guests, or the like. But none of the three terms mentioned will include a boarding house (because that is a place kept for tbe entertainment of permanent boarders, while a hotel or inn is for travelers and transient guests), nor a lodging house (because the keeper thereof does not furnish food for guests, which is one of the requisites of a hotel or inn), nor a restaurant or eating-house, which furnishes food only and not lodging. See Martin v. State Ins. Co., 44 N. J. Law, 485, 43 Am. Rep. 397; In re Liquor Licenses, 4 Montg. Co. Law Rep'r (Pa.) 79; Kelly v. Excise Com'rs. 54 How. Prac. (N. Y.) 331; Carpenter v. Taylor, 1 Hilt. (N. Y.) 193: Cromwell v. Stephens, 2 Daly (N. Y.) 23. Less...

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