Legal Term Dictionary

In criminal law. Plunder; pillage; robbery. In the civil law, rapina is defined as the forcible and violent taking ot another man's movable property with the criminal intent to appropriate it to the robber's own use. A praetorian action lay for this offense, in which quadruple damages were recoverable. Galus, More...

In criminal law. Plunder; pillage; robbery. In the civil law, rapina is defined as the forcible and violent taking ot another man's movable property with the criminal intent to appropriate it to the robber's own use. A praetorian action lay for this offense, in which quadruple damages were recoverable. Galus, lib. 3, ? 209; Inst. 4, 2; Mackeld. Rom. Law, f 481; Heinecc. Elem. * 1071. Less...

In French law and in Louisiana. A proceeding similar to hotchpot; the restoration to the succession of such property as the heir may have received by way of advancement from the decedent, in order that an even division may be made among all the co-heirs. Civ. Code La. art. 1305.

In French law and in Louisiana. A proceeding similar to hotchpot; the restoration to the succession of such property as the heir may have received by way of advancement from the decedent, in order that an even division may be made among all the co-heirs. Civ. Code La. art. 1305. Less...

In old English law. A ravisher. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 52, ? 12.

In old English law. A ravisher. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 52, ? 12. Less...

In old English law. A writ for taking away an heir holding in socage, of which there were two sorts: One when the heir was married; the other when he was not. Reg. Orig. 163.

In old English law. A writ for taking away an heir holding in socage, of which there were two sorts: One when the heir was married; the other when he was not. Reg. Orig. 163. Less...

Lat. In old English law. Ravished. A technical word in old indictments. 2 East, 30.

Lat. In old English law. Ravished. A technical word in old indictments. 2 East, 30. Less...

The act of scraping, scratching, or shaving the surface of a written instrument, for the purpose of removing certain letters or words from it It is to be distinguished from "obliteration," as the latter word properly denotes the crossing out of a word or letter by drawing a line through More...

The act of scraping, scratching, or shaving the surface of a written instrument, for the purpose of removing certain letters or words from it It is to be distinguished from "obliteration," as the latter word properly denotes the crossing out of a word or letter by drawing a line through it with ink. But the two expressions are often used interchangeably. See Penny v. Corwithe, 18 Johns. (N. Y.) 499. Less...

In old English law. A rase; a measure of onions, containing twenty Hones, and each flonis twenty-five heads. Fleta, lib. 2, c 12, | 12.

In old English law. A rase; a measure of onions, containing twenty Hones, and each flonis twenty-five heads. Fleta, lib. 2, c 12, | 12. Less...

Within the meaning of a tax law, this term means "taxable estate;" the real and personal property which the legislature designates as "taxable." Marshfleld v. Middlesex, 55 Vt 546.

Within the meaning of a tax law, this term means "taxable estate;" the real and personal property which the legislature designates as "taxable." Marshfleld v. Middlesex, 55 Vt 546. Less...

Lat. In the civil law. To hold a thing ratified; to ratify or confirm it Dig. 46, 8, 12, 1.

Lat. In the civil law. To hold a thing ratified; to ratify or confirm it Dig. 46, 8, 12, 1. Less...

Proportional or relative value, measure, or degree; the proportion or standard by which quantity or value is adjusted. Thus, the rate of interest is the proportion or ratio between the principal and interest So the buildings in a town are rated for insurance purposes; i. e., classified and individually estimated More...

Proportional or relative value, measure, or degree; the proportion or standard by which quantity or value is adjusted. Thus, the rate of interest is the proportion or ratio between the principal and interest So the buildings in a town are rated for insurance purposes; i. e., classified and individually estimated with reference to their insurable qualities. In this sense also we speak of articles as being in "first-rate" or "second-rate" condition. Absolute measure, value, or degree. Thus, we speak of the rate at which public lands are sold, of the,rates of fare upon railroads, etc. See Georgia R. & B. Co. v. Maddox, 116 Ga. 64, 42 S. E. 315; Chase v. New York Cent. R. Co., 26 N. Y. 526; People v. Dolan, 36 N. Y. 67. The term is also used as the synonym or "tax;" that is, a sum assessed by governmental authority upon persons or property, by proportional valuation, for public purposes. It is chiefly employed in this sense in England, but Is there usually confined to taxes of a local nature, or those raised by the parish; such as the poor-rate, borough-rate, etc. It sometimes occurs in a connection which gives it a meaning synonymous with "as sessment;" that is, the apportionment of a tax among the whole number of persons who are responsible for It by estimating the value of the taxable property of each, and making a proportional distribution of the whole amount Thus we speak of "rating" persons and property. In marine insurance, the term refers to the classification or scaling of vessels based on their relative state and condition in regard to insurable qualities; thus, a vessel In the best possible condition and offering the best risk from the underwriter's standpoint ia "rated" as "A 1." See Insurance Companies v. Wright, 1 Wall. 472, 17 L. Ed. 505. -Rate of exchange. In commercial law. The actual price at which a bill, drawn in one country Upon another country, can be bought or obtained in the former country at any given time. Story, Bills, ? 31.-Rate-tithe. In English law. When any sheep, or other cattle, are kept in a parish for less time than a yearP the owner must pay tithe for them pro rata, according to the custom of the place. Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 51. Less...