Legal Term Dictionary

To pronounce anathema upon; to pronounce accursed by ecclesiastical authority; to excommunicate.

To pronounce anathema upon; to pronounce accursed by ecclesiastical authority; to excommunicate. Less...

In the civil law. Repeated or doubled interest; compound interest; usury. Cod. 4, 32, 1, 30.

In the civil law. Repeated or doubled interest; compound interest; usury. Cod. 4, 32, 1, 30. Less...

One who has preceded another in a direct line of descent; a lineal ascendant. A former possessor; the person last seised. Termes de la Ley; 2 Bl. Comm. 201. A deceased person from whom another has inherited land. A former possessor. Bailey v. Bailey, 25 Mich. 185; McCarthy v. Marsh, More...

One who has preceded another in a direct line of descent; a lineal ascendant. A former possessor; the person last seised. Termes de la Ley; 2 Bl. Comm. 201. A deceased person from whom another has inherited land. A former possessor. Bailey v. Bailey, 25 Mich. 185; McCarthy v. Marsh, 5 N. Y. 275; Springer v. Fortune, 2 Handy, (Ohio,) 52. In this sense a child may be the "ancestor" of his deceased parent, or one brother the "ancestor" of another. Lavery v. Egan, 143 Mass. 389, 9 N. E. 747; Murphy v. Henry, 35 Ind. 450. The term differs from "predecessor," in that it is applied to a natural person and his progenitors, while the latter is applied also to a corporation and those who have held offices before those who now fill them. Co. Litt 78b. Less...

Relating to ancestors, or to what has been done by them; as homage ancestrel. Derived from ancestors. Ancestral estates are such as are transmitted by descent, and not by purchase. 4 Kent, Comm. 404. Brown v. Whaley, 58 Ohio St 654, 49 N. Eu 479, 65 Am. St. Rep. 793.

Relating to ancestors, or to what has been done by them; as homage ancestrel. Derived from ancestors. Ancestral estates are such as are transmitted by descent, and not by purchase. 4 Kent, Comm. 404. Brown v. Whaley, 58 Ohio St 654, 49 N. Eu 479, 65 Am. St. Rep. 793. Less...

A measure containing ten gallons.

A measure containing ten gallons. Less...

A watch, consisting of a small number of men. (from one to four,) kept constantly on deck while the vessel is riding at single anchor, to see that the stoppers, painters, cables, and buoy-ropes are ready for immediate use. The Lady Franklin, 2 Lowell, 220, Fed. Cas. No. 7,984.

A watch, consisting of a small number of men. (from one to four,) kept constantly on deck while the vessel is riding at single anchor, to see that the stoppers, painters, cables, and buoy-ropes are ready for immediate use. The Lady Franklin, 2 Lowell, 220, Fed. Cas. No. 7,984. Less...

In English law. A prestation or toll for every anchor cast from a ship in a port; and sometimes, though there be no anchor. Hale, de Jure Mar. pt. 2, c. 6. See 1 W. Bl. 413 et seq.; 4 Term. 262.

In English law. A prestation or toll for every anchor cast from a ship in a port; and sometimes, though there be no anchor. Hale, de Jure Mar. pt. 2, c. 6. See 1 W. Bl. 413 et seq.; 4 Term. 262. Less...

Old; that which has existed from an indefinitely early period, or which by age alone has acquired certain rights or privileges accorded in view of long continuance. —Ancient deed. A deed 30 years old and shown to come from a proper custody and having nothing suspicious about it is an More...

Old; that which has existed from an indefinitely early period, or which by age alone has acquired certain rights or privileges accorded in view of long continuance. —Ancient deed. A deed 30 years old and shown to come from a proper custody and having nothing suspicious about it is an "ancient deed" and may be admitted in evidence without proof of its execution. Havens v. Seashore Land Co., 47 N. J. Eq. 365. 20 Atl. 497; Davis v. Wood, 161 Mo. 17. 61 S. W. 695.—Ancient demesne. Manors which in the time of William the Conqueror were in the hands of the crown, and are so recorded in the Domesday Book. Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 14. 56; Baker v. Wich,1 Salk. 56. Tenure inancient demesne may be pleaded in abatement to an action of ejectment. Lust v. Roe. 2 Burr. 1046. Also a species of copyhold, which differs, however, from common copyholds in certain privileges, but yet must be conveyed by surrender, according to the custom of the manor. There are three sorts: (1) Where the lands are held freely by the king's grant; (2). customary freeholds, which are held of a manor in ancient demesne, but not at the lord's will, although they are conveyed by surrender, or deed and admittance; (3) lands held by copy of court-roll at the lord's will, denominated conyholds of base tenure.—Ancient house. One which has stood long enough to acquire an easement of support against the adjoining land or building. 3 Kent, Comm. 437; 2 Washb. Real Prop. 74, 76. In England this term is applied to houses or buildings erected before the time of legal memory, (Cooke. Incl. Acts. 35. 100.) that is, before the reign of Richard I., although practically any house is an ancient messuage if it was erected before the time of living memory, and its origin cannot be proved to be modern.—Ancient lights. Lights or windows in a house, which have been used in their present state, without molestation or interruption, for twenty years, and upwards. To these the owner of the house has a right by prescription or occupancy, so that they cannot be obstructed or closed by the owner of the adjoining land which they may overlook. Wright v. Freeman, ft Har. A J. (Md.) 477: Story v. Odin. 12 Mass. 160. 7 Am. Dec. 81.—Ancient readings. Readings or lectures upon the ancient English statutes, formerly regarded as of great authority in law. Litt.' ft 481 : Co. Litt. 280.—Ancient rent. The rent reserved at the time the lease was made, if the building was not then under lease. Orby v. Lord Mbhiin, 2 Vera. 542.—Ancient serjeant. In English law. The eldest of the queen's Serjeants.—Ancient wall. A wall built to be used, and in fact used, as a party-wall, for more than twenty years, by the express permission and continuous acquiescence of the owners of the land on which it stands. Eno v. Del Vecchio, 4 Duer (N. Y.) 53, 63.—Ancient water-course. A water-course is "ancient" if the channel through which it naturally runs has existed from time immemorial independent of the quantity of water which it discharges. Earl v. De Hart. 12 N. .T. Eq. 280. 72 Am. Dec. 305.—Ancient writing. Wills, deeds, or other documents upwards of thirty years old. These are presumed to be genuine without express proof, when coming from the proper custody. Less...

In English law. Gentlemen of the inns of court and chancery. In Gray's Inn the society consists of benchers, ancients, barristers, and students under the bar; and here the ancients are of the oldest barristers. In the Middle Temple, those who had passed their readings used to be termed "ancients." More...

In English law. Gentlemen of the inns of court and chancery. In Gray's Inn the society consists of benchers, ancients, barristers, and students under the bar; and here the ancients are of the oldest barristers. In the Middle Temple, those who had passed their readings used to be termed "ancients." The Inns of Chancery consist of ancients and students or clerks; from the ancients a principal or treasurer is chosen yearly. Wharton. Less...

Eldership; seniority. Used in the statute of Ireland, 14 Hen. VIII. Cowell.

Eldership; seniority. Used in the statute of Ireland, 14 Hen. VIII. Cowell. Less...