Legal Advice Banner

Legal Advice Mobile Banner

Connect one-on-one with a legal expert who will answer your question

Chat Now

Connect one-on-one with a legal expert who will answer your question

Chat Now

Ask a question, get an answer ASAP!

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.

Speak with a Lawyer 3

Speak with a Lawyer 4

Browse
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

ABBREVIATORS
In ecclesiastical law. Officers whose duty it is to assist in drawing up the pope's briefs, and reducing petitions into proper form to be converted into papal bulls. Bouvier.

In ecclesiastical law. Officers whose duty it is to assist in drawing up the pope's briefs, and reducing petitions into proper form to be converted into papal bulls. Bouvier. Less...
ABBROCHMENT, OR ABBROACHMENT
The act of forestalling a market by buying up at wholesale the merchandise intended to be sold there, for the purpose of selling it at retail. See FORESTALLING.

The act of forestalling a market by buying up at wholesale the merchandise intended to be sold there, for the purpose of selling it at retail. See FORESTALLING. Less...
ABDICATION
The act of a sovereign in renouncing and relinquishing his government or throne, so that either the throne is left entirely vacant or is filled by a successor appointed or elected beforehand. Also, where a magistrate or person in office voluntarily renounces or gives it up before the time of More...

The act of a sovereign in renouncing and relinquishing his government or throne, so that either the throne is left entirely vacant or is filled by a successor appointed or elected beforehand. Also, where a magistrate or person in office voluntarily renounces or gives it up before the time of service has expired. It differs from resignation, in that resignation is made by one who has received his office from another and restores it into his hands, as an inferior into the hands of a superior; abdication is the relinquishment of an office which has devolved by act of law. It is said to be a renunciation, quitting, and relinquishing, so as to have nothing further to do with a thing, or the doing of such actions as are inconsistent with the holding of it. Chambers. Less...
ABDUCTION
In criminal law. The offense of taking away a man's wife, child, or ward, by fraud and persuasion, or open violence. 3 Bl. Comm. 139-141; Humphrey v. Pope, 122 Cal. 253, 54 Pac. 847; State v. George, 93 N. C. 567; State v. Chisenhall, 106 N. C. 676, 11 S. More...

In criminal law. The offense of taking away a man's wife, child, or ward, by fraud and persuasion, or open violence. 3 Bl. Comm. 139-141; Humphrey v. Pope, 122 Cal. 253, 54 Pac. 847; State v. George, 93 N. C. 567; State v. Chisenhall, 106 N. C. 676, 11 S. E. 518; People v. Seeley, 37 Hun (N. Y.) 190. The unlawful taking or detention of any female for the purpose of marriage, concubinage, or prostitution. People v. Crotty, 55 Hun (N. Y.) 611, 9 N. Y. Supp. 937. By statute in some states, abduction includes the withdrawal of a husband from his wife, as where another woman alienates his affection and entices him away and causes him to abandon his wife. King v. Hanson, 13 N. D. 85, 99 N. W. 1085. Less...
ABEARANCE
Behavior; as a recognizance to be of good abearance signifies to be of good behavior. 4 Bl. Comm. 251, 256.

Behavior; as a recognizance to be of good abearance signifies to be of good behavior. 4 Bl. Comm. 251, 256. Less...
ABEREMURDER
(From Sax. abere, apparent notorious; and mord, murder.) Plain or downright murder, as distinguished from the less heinous crime of manslaughter, or chance medley. It was declared a capital offense, without fine or commutation, by the laws of Canute, c. 93, and of Hen. I. c. 13. Spelman.

(From Sax. abere, apparent notorious; and mord, murder.) Plain or downright murder, as distinguished from the less heinous crime of manslaughter, or chance medley. It was declared a capital offense, without fine or commutation, by the laws of Canute, c. 93, and of Hen. I. c. 13. Spelman. Less...
ABESSE
Lat. In the civil law. To be absent; to be away from a place. Said of a person who was extra continentia urbis, (beyond the suburbs of the city.)

Lat. In the civil law. To be absent; to be away from a place. Said of a person who was extra continentia urbis, (beyond the suburbs of the city.) Less...
ABET
In criminal law. To encourage, incite, or set another on to commit a crime. See ABETTOR. "Aid" and "abet" are nearly synonymous terms as generally used; but, strictly speaking, the former term does not imply guilty knowledge or felonious intent, whereas the word "abet" includes knowledge of the wrongful purpose More...

In criminal law. To encourage, incite, or set another on to commit a crime. See ABETTOR. "Aid" and "abet" are nearly synonymous terms as generally used; but, strictly speaking, the former term does not imply guilty knowledge or felonious intent, whereas the word "abet" includes knowledge of the wrongful purpose and counsel and encouragement in the commission of the crime. People v. Dole, 122 Cal. 486, 55 Pac. 581, 68 Am. St Rep. 50; People v. Morine, 138 Cal. 626, 72 Pac. 166; State v. Empey, 79 Iowa, 460, 44 N. W. 707; Raiford v. State, 59 Ala. 106; White v. People, 81 111. 333. Less...
ABETTATOR
L. Lat In old English law. An abettor. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 65, f 7. See ABETTOR.

L. Lat In old English law. An abettor. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 65, f 7. See ABETTOR. Less...
ABETTOR
In criminal law. An instigator, or setter on; one who promotes or procures a crime to be committed; one who commands, advises, instigates, or encourages another to commit a crime; a person who, being present or in the neighborhood, incites another to commit a crime, and thus becomes a principal. More...

In criminal law. An instigator, or setter on; one who promotes or procures a crime to be committed; one who commands, advises, instigates, or encourages another to commit a crime; a person who, being present or in the neighborhood, incites another to commit a crime, and thus becomes a principal. The distinction between abettors and accessaries is the presence or absence at the commission of the crime. Cowell; Fleta, lib. 1, c. 34. Presence and participation are necessary to constitute a person an abettor. Green v. State, 13 Mo. 382; State v. Teahan, 50 Conn. 92; Connaughty v. State, 1 Wis. 159, 60 Am. Dec. 370. Less...

Showing 80 of 1352

Legal Dictionary

Legal Resources

Top Legal Categories

Accident Law

Accident Law

Accident Law Basics, Motorcycle Accident Law, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Slip and Fall Accidents, Wrongful Death and

more

Bankruptcy Law

Bankruptcy Law

Bankruptcy Law Basics, Consumer Bankruptcy, Business Bankruptcy, Debt & Collections, Credit Problems and

more

Business Law

Business Law

Business Law Basics, Starting A Business, Types of Businesses, Naming A Business and

more

Child Custody Law

Child Custody

Child Custody Law Basics, Child Custody Procedure, Child Visitation, Father’s Rights, Modifying A Child Order and

more

Child Support Law

Child Support

Child Support Basics, Child Support Calculation, Failure to Pay Child Support, Modifying Child Support, and

more

Criminal Law

Criminal Law

Criminal Law Basics, Arrests and Searches, Drug Charges, Drunk Driving, Marijuana Laws, Juvenile Laws and

more

Divorce Law

Divorce

Divorce Law Basics, Types of Divorce, Property Distribution and

more

Drunk Driving Law

Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving Law Basics, DUI Checkpoints, DUI Testing, DUI Defenses and

more

Employment Labor Law

Employment Labor Law

Employment/ Labor Law Basics, Hiring & Firing, Wage & Hour, Job Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Workers Compensation and

more

Estate Planning Law

Estate Planning

Estate Planning Basics, Elder Law, Living Wills, Probate, Trusts, Wills, and

more

Family Law

Family Law

Family Law Basics, Adoption, Divorce Law, Child Custody, Child Support, Spousal Support, Marriage and

more

Immigration Law

Immigration Law

Immigration Law Basics, Asylum, Citizenship, Green Cards, Permanent Residents, Visas and

more

Injury Law

Injury Law

Personal Injury Law Basics, Defective Products, Dangerous Drugs, Property Damage and

more

Landlord Tenant

Landlord Tenant

Real Estate Law Basics, Commercial Real Estate, Foreclosure, Landlord Tenants, Mortgages, Residential Real Estate, Zoning and

more

Real Estate Law

Real Estate Law

Real Estate Law Basics, Commercial Real Estate, Foreclosure, Landlord Tenants, Mortgages, Residential Real Estate, Zoning and

more

Social Security Law

Social Security Law

Social Security Law Basics, Applying for Benefits, Eligibility and

more

Traffic Law

Traffic Law

Traffic Law Basics, License Suspension, Traffic Court, Traffic Violations and

more