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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  • MESS BRIEF
    In Danish sea law. One of a ship's papers; a certificate of admeasurement granted at the home port of a vessel by the government or by some other competent authority. Jac. Sea Laws, 51.
  • MESSAGE FROM THE CROWN
    In English law. The method of communicating between the sovereign and the house of parliament. A written message under the royal sign-manual is brought by a member of the house, being a minister of the crown or one of the royal household. Verbal messages are also sometimes delivered. May. Pari. More...
  • MESSAGE, PRESIDENT'S
    An annual communication from the president of the United States to congress, made at or near the beginning of each session, embodying his views on the state and exigencies of national affairs, suggestions and recommends tions for legislation, and other matters. Const U. S. art. 2, % 3.
  • MESSARIUS
    In old English law. A chief servant in husbandry; a bailiff.
  • MESSE THANE
    One who said mass; a priest Cowell.
  • MESSENGER
    One who bears messages or errands; a ministerial officer employed by executive officers, legislative bodies, and courts of justice, whose service consists principally in carrying verbal or written communications or executing other orders. In Scotland there are officers attached to the courts, called "messengers at arms." An officer attached te More...
  • MESSUAGE
    This term is. now synonymous with "dwelling-house," but had once a more extended signification. It is frequently used in deeds, in describing the premises. Marmet Co. v. Archibald, 37 W. Va. 778, 17 S. E. 300; Grimes v. Wilson, 4 Blackf. (Ind.) 333; Derby v. Jones, 27 Me. 360; Davis More...
  • MESTIZO
    A mongrel or person of mixed blood; sometimes used as equivalent to "octoroon," that is, the child of a white person and a quadroon, sometimes as denoting a person one of whose parents was a Spaniard and the other an American Indian.
  • META
    Lat. A goal, bound, or turning-point In old English law, the term was used to denote a bound or boundary line of land; a landmark; a material object as a tree or a pillar, marking the position or beginning of a boundary line.
  • METACHRONISM
    An error in computation of time.
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