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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  • CAPITALE VIVENS
    Live cattle. Blount.
  • CAPITALIS
    In old English law. Chief, principal; at the head. A term applied to persons, places, judicial proceedings, and some kinds of property. —Capitalis baro. In old English law. Chief baron. Capitaltis baro scacoarii domini regis, chief baron of the exchequer. Townsh. PI. 211. —Capitalis eustos. Chief warden or magistrate ; More...
  • CAPITANEUS
    A tenant in capite. He who held his land or title directly from the king himself. A captain; a naval commander.
  • CAPITARE
    In old law and surveys. To head, front, or abut; to touch at the head, or end.
  • CAPITATIM
    Lat. By the head; by the poll; severally to each individual.
  • CAPITATION TAX
    One which is levied upon the person simply, without any reference to his property, real or personal, or to any business in which he may be engaged, or to any employment which he may follow. Gardner v. Hall, 61 N. C. 22; Leedy v. Bourbon, 12 Ind. App. 486, 40 More...
  • CAPITE
    Lat. By the head. Tenure in capite was an ancient feudal tenure, whereby a man held lands of the king immediately. It was of two sorts,—the one, principal and general, or of the king as the source of all tenure; the other, special and subaltern, or of a particular subject. More...
  • CAPITE MINUTUS
    In the civil law. One who had suffered capitis diminutio, one who lost status or legal attributes. See Dig. 4, 5.
  • CAPITIS DIMINUTIO
    In Roman law. A diminishing or abridgment of personality. This was a loss or curtailment of a man's status or aggregate of legal attributes and qualifications, following upon certain changes in his civil condition. It was of three kinds, enumerated as follows: Capitis diminutio maxima. The highest or most comprehensive More...
  • CAPITITIUM
    A covering for the head, mentioned in St. 1 Hen. IV. and other old statutes, which prescribe what dresses shall be worn by all degrees of persons. Jacob.
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