Legal Term Dictionary

In old English law. A fine, or sum of money paid for a lease. Plowd. 270, 271. Supposed to be a corruption of gersuma, (q. v.) See GBESSTJMB,

In old English law. A fine, or sum of money paid for a lease. Plowd. 270, 271. Supposed to be a corruption of gersuma, (q. v.) See GBESSTJMB, Less...

1. Soil; earth; a portion of the earth's surface appropriated to private use and under cultivation or susceptible of cultivation. Though this term is sometimes used in conveyances and in statutes as equivalent to "land," it is properly of a more limited signification, because it applies strictly only to the More...

1. Soil; earth; a portion of the earth's surface appropriated to private use and under cultivation or susceptible of cultivation. Though this term is sometimes used in conveyances and in statutes as equivalent to "land," it is properly of a more limited signification, because it applies strictly only to the surface, while "land includes everything beneath the surface, and because "ground" always means dry land, whereas "land" may and often does include the beds of lakes and streams and other surfaces under water. See Wood v. Carter, 70 111. Apo. 218; State v. Jersey City, 25 N. J. Law, 529; Com. v. Roxbury, 9 Gray (Mass.) 491. -Ground annual. In Scotch law. An annual rent of two kinds: First, the feu duties payable to the lords of erection and their successors; second, the rents reserved for building lots in a city, where sub-feus are prohibited. This rent is in the nature of a perpetual annuity. Bell: Ersk. Inst 11, 3, 52.-Ground landlord. The grantor of an estate on which a ground-rent is reserved.-Ground-rent. A perpetual rent reserved to himself and his heirs, by the grantor of land in fee-simple, out of the land conveyed. It is in the nature of an emphyteutic rent. Also, in English law, rent paid on a building lease. See Hart v. Anderson, 198 Pa. 558, 48 Atl. 636; Sturgeon v. Ely, 6 Pa. 406; Franciscus v. Reigart, 4 Watta (Pa.) 116. 2. A foundation or basis. -Ground of action. The basis of a suit; the foundation or fundamental state of facts on which an action rests; the real object of the plaintiff in bringing his suit. See Nash v. Adams, 24 Conn. 39; Appeal of Huntington, 73 Conn.- 582, 48 Atl. 766.-Ground writ. Bv the English common-law procedure act, 1852, c 121. "it shall not be necessary to issue any writ directed to the sheriff of the county in which the venue is laid, but writs of execution may issue at once into any county, and be directed to and executed by the sheriff of any1 county, whether a county palatine or not, without reference to the county in which the venue is laid, and without any suggestion of the issuing of a prior writ into such county." Before this enactment, a ca. sa. or fi. fa. could not be issued into a county different from that in which the venue in the action was laid, without first issuing a writ, called a "ground writ," into the latter county, and then another writ which was called a "testatum writ" into the former. The above enactment abolished this useless process. Wharton. Less...

A custom or tribute paid for the standing of shipping in port. Jacob.

A custom or tribute paid for the standing of shipping in port. Jacob. Less...

A crop must be considered and treated as a gracing crop from the time tbe seed is deposited in the ground, as at that time the seed loses the qualities of a chattel, and becomes a part of the free-hold, and passes with a sale of it Wilkinson v. Ketler, More...

A crop must be considered and treated as a gracing crop from the time tbe seed is deposited in the ground, as at that time the seed loses the qualities of a chattel, and becomes a part of the free-hold, and passes with a sale of it Wilkinson v. Ketler, 69 Ala. 435. Growing crops of grain, and other annual productions raised by cultivation of the earth and industry of man, are personal chattels. Growing trees, fruit, or grass, and other natural products of the earth, are parcel of the land. Green v. Armstrong, 1 Denio (N. Y.) 550. Less...

A rate paid in some places for the tithe of every fat beast, ox, or other unfruitful cattle. Clayt 02L

A rate paid in some places for the tithe of every fat beast, ox, or other unfruitful cattle. Clayt 02L Less...

The principal officers of a forest.

The principal officers of a forest. Less...

In mining law. A contract between two parties by which one undertakes to furnish the necessary provisions, tools, and other supplies, and the other to prospect for and locate mineral lands and stake out mining claims thereon, the Interest in the property thus acquired inuring to the benefit of both More...

In mining law. A contract between two parties by which one undertakes to furnish the necessary provisions, tools, and other supplies, and the other to prospect for and locate mineral lands and stake out mining claims thereon, the Interest in the property thus acquired inuring to the benefit of both parties, either equally or in such proportions as their agreement may fix. Such contracts create a qualified or special partnership.. See Berry v. Wood-burn, 107 Cal. 512, 40 Pac. 804; Hartney v. Gosling, 10 Wyo. 346, 68 Pac 1118, 98 Am. St. Rep. 1005; Meylette v. Brennan, 20 Colo. 242, 88 Pac. 75. Less...

In old European law. A pledge. Spelman; Calvin. A custom. Spelman. Spelled also "wadla."

In old European law. A pledge. Spelman; Calvin. A custom. Spelman. Spelled also "wadla." Less...

He to whom a guaranty Is made. This word is also used, as a noun, to denote the contract of guaranty or the obligation of a guarantor, and, as a verb, to denote the action of assuming the responsibilities of a guarantor. But on the general principle of legal orthography,-that More...

He to whom a guaranty Is made. This word is also used, as a noun, to denote the contract of guaranty or the obligation of a guarantor, and, as a verb, to denote the action of assuming the responsibilities of a guarantor. But on the general principle of legal orthography,-that the title of the person to whom the action passes over should end in "ee," as "donee," "grantee," "payee," "bailee," "drawee," etc., -it seems better to use this word only as the correlative of "guarantor," and to spell the verb, and also the name of the contract, "guaranty." Less...

In Spanish law. A written authorization to a court to enforce the performance of an agreement in the same manner as If it had been decreed upon regular legal proceedings.

In Spanish law. A written authorization to a court to enforce the performance of an agreement in the same manner as If it had been decreed upon regular legal proceedings. Less...