(Lat.) Body; the body; an aggregate or mass, (of men, laws, or articles;) physical substance, as distinguished from intellectual conception; the principal sum or capital, as distinguished from interest or income. A substantial or positive fact, as distinguished from what is equivocal and ambiguous. The corpus ilclicti (body of an offense) is the fact of its having been actually committed. Best, Pres. 209-279. A corporeal act of any kind, (as distinguished from animus or mere intention.) on the part of him who wishes to acquire a thing, whereby he obtains the physical ability to exercise his power over it whenever he pleases. The word occurs frequently in this sense in the civil law. Mackeld. Rom. Law,