Legal Term Dictionary

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  • OFFSET
    A deduction; a counterclaim; a contrary claim or demand by which a given claim may be lessened or canceled. See Leonard r. Charter Oak L. Ins. Co., 65 Conn. 529, 33 Ati. 511; Cable Flax Mills v. Early, 72 App. Div. 213, 76 N. Y. Supp. 191. The more usual More...
  • OFFSPRING
    This term is synonymous with "issue." See Barber v. Railroad Co., 166 U. S. 83, 17 Sup. Ct. 488, 41 L. Ed. 925; Allen v. Markle, 36 Pa. 117; Powell v. Brandon, 2 Cushm. (Miss.) 343.
  • OIR
    In.Spanish law. To hear; to take cognizance. White, New Recop. b. 3, tit X, c 7
  • OXER
    In Scotch law. Usury; the taking of interest for money, contrary to law. Bell.
  • OLD NATURA. BREVIUM
    The title of a treatise written in the reign of Edward III. containing the writs which were then most in use, annexing to each a short comment concerning their nature and the application of them, with their various properties and effects. 3 Reeve, Eng. Law, 152. It is so called More...
  • OLD STYLE
    The ancient calendar or method of reckoning time, whereby the year commenced on March 25th. It was superseded by the new style
  • OLD TENURES
    A treatise, so called to distinguish it from Littleton's book on the same subject, which gives an account of the various tenures by which land was holden, the nature of estates, and some other incidents to landed property in the reign of Edward III. It is a very scanty tract, More...
  • OLEOMARGARINE
    An artificial imitation of butter, made chiefly from animal fats. Its sale is prohibited or restricted by statute in several of the states. See Cook v. State, 110 Ala. 40, 20 South. 360; Butler v. Chambers, 36 Minn. 69, 30 N. W. 308, 1 Am. St Rep. 638; State v. More...
  • OLERON, LAWS OF
    A code of maritime laws published at the island of Oleron In the twelfth century by Eleanor of Gui-enne. They were adopted In England successively under Richard I., Henry III., and Edward III., and are often cited before the admiralty courts. De Lovio v. Bolt, 2 Gall. 398, Fed. Cas. More...
  • OLIGARCHY
    A form of government wherein the administration of affairs is lodged in the hands of a few persons.
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