Legal Term Dictionary

Sustenance; support; assistance. The furnishing by one person to another, for his support of the means of living, or food, clothing, shelter, etc., particularly where the legal relation of the parties is such that one is bound to support the other, as between father' and child, or husband and wife. More...

Sustenance; support; assistance. The furnishing by one person to another, for his support of the means of living, or food, clothing, shelter, etc., particularly where the legal relation of the parties is such that one is bound to support the other, as between father' and child, or husband and wife. Wall v. Williams, 93 N. C. 330, 53 Am. Rep. 458; Winthrop Co. v. Clinton, 196 Pa. 472, 46 Atl. 435, 79 Am. St Rep. 729; Reglna v. Gravesend, 5 El. A Bl. 466; State v. Beatty, 61 Iowa, 307, 16 NT. W. 149; In re Warren Insane Hospital, 3 Pa. Dist R. 223. In criminal law. An unauthorised and: officious interference in a suit in which the: offender has no interest to assist one of the: parties to it against the other, with money or advice to prosecute or defend the action. 1 Russ. Crimes, 254.- : Maintenance, in general, signifies an unlawful taking in hand or upholding of quarrels and sides, to the hindrance of common right Cov Litt. 3686; Hawk. P. C. 393. , Maintenance is the assisting another person far a lawsuit, without having any concern in the subject Wickham v. Conklin, 8 Johns. (N. T.> 220. Maintenance is where one officiously intermeddles in a suit which in no way belongs to' him. The term does not include all kinds of aid in the prosecution or defense of another's cause. It does not extend to persons having an interest in the thing in controversy, nor to' persons of kin or affinity to either party, nor to counsel or attorneys, for their acts are not officious, nor unlawful. The distinction between "champerty" and "maintenance" is that maintenance is the promoting, or undertaking to promote, a suit by one who has no lawful cause to do so, and champerty is an agreement for a division of the thing in controversy, in the event of success, as a reward for the inr lawful assistance. Bayard v. McLane, 3 Har. (Del.) 208., "Maintenance" at common law, signifies an unlawful taking in hand or upholding of quarrels or sides, to the disturbance or hindrance of common ripht. The maintaining.of one side, in consideration of some bargain to have part of the thing in dispute, is called "champerty." Champerty, therefore, is a species of maintenance. Richardson v. Rowland, 40 Conn. 570. And see also, Gilman v. Jones, 87 Ala. 691, 5,South.'785, 4 L. R. A. 113: Brown v. Beau-champ, 5 T. B. Mon. (Ky.) 413, 17 Am. Dec. 81: Gowen v. Nowell. 1 Me. 292; Vaughan v. Marable, 64 Ala. 66; Thurston v. Percival, 1 Pick. (Mass.) 415; Hovey v. Hobson. 51 Me. 62; Quigley v, Thompson, 53 Ind. 320. Less...

An old form of "mayor."

An old form of "mayor." Less...

In old Scotch law. An officer to whom process was directed. Otherwise called "malr of fie," (fee,) and classed with the "serjand." Skene. In French law. A mayor.

In old Scotch law. An officer to whom process was directed. Otherwise called "malr of fie," (fee,) and classed with the "serjand." Skene. In French law. A mayor. Less...

In French law. The government building of each commune. It contains the record office of all civil acts and the list of voters; and it is there that political and municipal elections take place. Arg. Fr. Merc. Law, 566.

In French law. The government building of each commune. It contains the record office of all civil acts and the list of voters; and it is there that political and municipal elections take place. Arg. Fr. Merc. Law, 566. Less...

Fr. A hospital; an almshouse; a monastery. St 39 Eliz. c. 5. LiteraUy, "house of God."

Fr. A hospital; an almshouse; a monastery. St 39 Eliz. c. 5. LiteraUy, "house of God." Less...

An old form, of "master."

An old form, of "master." Less...

A house, mansion, or farm. Cowell.

A house, mansion, or farm. Cowell. Less...

Fr. In French maritime law. Master; the master or captain of a vessel. Ord. Mar. liv. 2, tit 1, art L.

Fr. In French maritime law. Master; the master or captain of a vessel. Ord. Mar. liv. 2, tit 1, art L. Less...

Lat. In Roman law. The majesty, sovereign, authority, or supreme prerogative of the state, or prince. Also a shorter form of the expression "crimen majestatis," or "crimen, latum majestatis" an offense against sovereignty, or against the safety or organic life of the Roman people; i. e., high treason.

Lat. In Roman law. The majesty, sovereign, authority, or supreme prerogative of the state, or prince. Also a shorter form of the expression "crimen majestatis," or "crimen, latum majestatis" an offense against sovereignty, or against the safety or organic life of the Roman people; i. e., high treason. Less...

Royal dignity. A term used of kings and emperors as a title of honor.

Royal dignity. A term used of kings and emperors as a title of honor. Less...