Alien-foreign born. river. Almoner-distributor of charity. Armistice-cessation of hostilities. Attachment-summary writ for contempt of court; seizure of debtor's property. Attainder-corruption of blood. Attestation witnessing an instru ment. Attorney-in another's turn. Amittere liberam legem-to lose free Attornment-agreement of a vassal to law; to become infamous. Amnesty-oblivion of past offences. Amotion-removal; ouster. Anarchy-without government. A nativitate-from his birth. receive a new lord. Audita querela - complaint having been heard; a writ. Auditors parties appointed to adjust accounts. Ancient demesne-lands reserved to Aula regis-hall of the king. the crown. Aurum reginae-gold of the queen. Animo furandi-with design of steal- Autrefois-at another time. ing. Animum revertendi-intent to return. Animum testandi-testamentary discretion or intent. Annuity-a yearly allowance. Annul-abrogate; make void. Antiquum ancient. A patre-from the father. Appeal-an accusation under criminal law; submission to a superior decision. Appearance-coming into court. Appraisement-valuation of property. Apprentice-indentured employee. Approver-confessing guilt and accusing another. Autre vie-another's life. Avoidance-special matter in pleading. Backing warrant-endorsement by a Appurtenant-belonging or incident Bailment-delivery of goods in trust. Battery-unlawful beating of another. | Capiatur-that he be taken. Bench warrant writ of a criminal court. Benefice-an ecclesiastical preferment. Beneficiary-party benefitted. Beneficium-feud or fief. Benefit of clergy - exemption from death penalty. Bequest-personalty left by will. Bigamy - having two wives or husbands at the same time. Capital punishment-death penalty. Caput lupinum-head of wolves. Caput, principium et finis-the head, beginning and end. Bill-plaintiff's statement of action in Caveat-that he beware; a warning. courts of equity. Caveat emptor-let the buyer beware. Billa vera-"true bill," endorsement Census regalis-royal revenue. on an indictment. Centenarius-head of a hundred. Bill of exchange-open letter of re- Ceorl—a Saxon peasant. Bond-sealed obligation to pay money Borough an incorporated town. Caesarian operation-extracting the foetus through an incision made in the abdomen. Cancelli-lattice work; cancelling. Capias ad respondendum-that you take him to answer; a writ. Capias utlagatum-that you take the outlaw. Cepi corpus "I have taken the body;" return by sheriff to writ of capias. Cepit et asportavit-he took and carried away. Certiorari-to be certified or informed of; a writ from a higher to a lower court. Cessante ratione, cessat et ipsa lex the reason ceasing, the law itself ceases. Cestui que use or trust-one to whose use land is granted. Cestui que vie-one for whose life a grant is made. Challenge-exception to a juror. Champerty-contingent interest in a suit. Chance-medley-homicide in self-de fence. Chancellor-chief judge in chancery. Charter-a grant from a sovereign Chancery-court of equity. power. Chase-space reserved for hunting; acquiring animals "ferae naturae." Chattel-property other than freehold. Chaud-medley-killing in hot blood. Chicane-trickery. Chivalry tenure by knight's service. Choses in action-things to be obtained by suit, not being in possession. Chronicon pretiosum-valuable chronicle. Church-warden-guardian of a church. Circa ardua regni- concerning the weighty affairs of the kingdom. Circumspecte agatis-act cautiously. Citation-order of court to appear and | Compassing-contriving, plotting. show cause. Civilian-one versed in the civil law. Clerk-one in ecclesiastical orders. Competency-legal fitness of the evi dence. Compiling-summary of the works of others. Composition-agreement with credit ors. Compos mentis-sound of mind. Compounding-unlawful settlement of a crime. Compurgators-witnesses to clear an Conditor-founder. Condonation-marital forgiveness. Confession-admission of criminal act; in pleading, admission of opponent's averment. Confirmation-making a voidable estate sure; species of conveyance. Confiscation-forfeiture of property, as punishment for a crime. Conge d'eslire-permission to elect. Conjuration-a sworn compact. Connivance-consent to an unlawful act. Consanguinity-blood relationship. Consensus, non concubitus facit nuptias consent, not cohabitation, makes marriage. Conservatores pacis-keepers of the peace. Consideratum est per curiam—it is considered by the court. Consistory-ecclesiastical tribunal. Conspiracy-agreement to do an unlawful act. Constablee-a ministerial officer. Constat de persona-there is proof of the person. Common law-immemorial customs of Constitutions of Clarendon - under Coram paribus-before the peers. the lord during war. cases of sudden death. Corporal-bodily; a military officer. Corporeal-palpable, tangible. Corpus juris civilis-body of civil law. Corruption of blood-incapacity to inherit. coelum-whose soil it is, it is his even to heaven. Cum testamento annexo-with the Curate a clergyman, having the care Curia advisare vult-the court will consider. Curia christianitas court. Curialitas-tenancy by the curtesy. Curia magna-great court. Curfew-Norman law, to cover fires, and retire at eight o'clock. Curtesy a husband's interest in the property of his deceased wife. Curtilage-ground adjoining a house. Custodiam comitatus-custody of the county. Custos morum-keeper of the morals. Custuma-customs. Cy pres-"as near as " it is possible to execute the will of a testator as to perpetuities. Damage feasant-doing damage. Corsned-accursed bread, swallowed Damnum absque injuria— damage by an accused party. Couchant-lying down. Counties-palatine-four English counties with special charters. Court-leet-an ancient criminal court. Covenant-contract under seal; an action thereon. without injury. Days of grace-three days additional Coverture-state of a married woman. De bene esse-conditionally. Covin-fraud. Cozening-cheating. Creamus, erigimus, fundamus create, erect, found. Crepusculum-twilight. we Crimen falsi-crime of forgery. Cujus est divisio, alterius est electio Debet et detinet-he owes and de tains. De bonis non-of the goods not" ad- De bono et malo-of good and evil. Dedimus potestatem-we have given | De prerogativo regis-king's preroga De proprietate probanda - proving ownership. De rationabili parte bonorum-of the De religiosis-of religious persons. Dernier resort-the last resort. Defeasance-a deed to defeat another De son tort-" of his own wrong; deed. Defeasible-may be defeated. Deforcement-wrongful detention of realty. having no authority to act. Detainer-detention of person or property. Determine-to end or terminate. De heretico comburendo-burning a Detinue-action to recover chattels. heretic. De homine replegiando-of replevy ing a man. Dehors-out of; foreign to. idiocy. De jure-by right or law. inquiry of De la plus belle-of the most beautiful. De uxore rapta et abducta-for seiz- Devenio vester homo-" I become moiety of the language; " jury part-Digests-compilations; works of Jus ly of foreigners. De mercatoribus-of merchants. De minimis non curat lex-the law cares not for small things. Demise-death; a conveyance. Demissio regis-demise of the king. De modo decimandi-manner of tithing. Demurrer an objection in pleading. Diocese a bishop's district. wrongful enlargement of an estate Disfranchise-deprivation of rights. Denizens-aliens made English sub-Disherison-disinheritance. jects. Dispensation-permit or immunity. Dissenters-seceders from the established church. De non decimando-exempt from Disseisin-ouster of the freehold. tithes. De novo-anew. Deodand-" gift to God," forfeited in- Distraint-making a distress. strument which caused death. De odio et atia-of hatred and ill-will. Distress-seizure of chattels for a debt, as for rent. De pace et legalitate tuenda-for Distribution-division of the estate of maintaining peace and law. Depose-to testify by deposition. Deposition-written testimony. an intestate. Districtio-a distress. Distringas-that you distrain. |