Your Free Online Legal Dictionary • Featuring Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed.

Category: A

AMBASCIATOR

A person sent about In the service of another; a person sent on a service. A word of frequent occurrence in the writers of the middle ages. Spelman.

AMBUSH

The noun “ambush” means (1) the act of attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station; (2) a concealed station, where troops or enemies lie in wait to attack by surprise, an

AMICUS CURL

Lat. A friend of the court. A by-stander (usually a counsellor) who interposes and volunteers information upon some matter of law in regard to which the judge is doubtful or mistaken, or

AMPLIATION

In the civil law. A deferring of judgment until a cause be further examined. Calvin.; Cowell. An order for the rehearing of a cause on a day appointed, for the sake of

ANCESTOR

One who has preceded another in a direct line of descent; a lineal ascendant. A former possessor; the person last seised. Termes de la Ley; 2 Bl. Comm. 201. A deceased person

ANGARIA

A term used in the Roman law to denote a forced or compulsory service exacted by the government for public purposes; as a forced rendition of labor or goods for the public

ANNEXATION

The act of attaching, adding, joining, or uniting one thing to another ; generally spoken of the connection of a smaller or subordinate thing with a larger or principal thing. The attaching

ANNUITIES OF TIENDS

In Scotch law. Annuities of tithes; 10s. out of the boll of tiend wheat, 8s. out of the boll of beer, less out of the boll of rye, oats, and peas, allowed

ANOMALOUS PLEA

One which is partly affirmative and partly negative. Baldwin v. Elizabeth, 42 X. J. E

ANTHROPOMETRY

In criminal law and medical jurisprudence. The measurement of the human body; a system of measuring the dimensions of the human body, both absolutely and in their proportion to each other, the

APOSTACY

In English law. The total renunciation of Christianity, by embracing either a false religion or no religion at all. This offense can only take place in such as have once professed the

APPARURA

In old English law the apparura were furniture, implements, tackie, or apparel. Carucarum, apparura, plow- tackle. Cowell.

APPENDANT

A thing annexed to or belonging to another thing and passing with it; a thing of inheritance belonging to another inheritance which is more worthy; as an advowson, common, etc., which may

APPORTUM

In old English law. The revenue, profit, or emolument which a thing brings to the owner. Commonly applied to a corody or pension. Blount.

APPROPRIATION OF LAND

The act of selecting, devoting, or setting apart land for a particular use or purpose, as where land is appropriated for public buildings, military reservations, or other public uses. McSorley. v. Hill.

APUD ACTA

Among the acts; among the recorded proceedings. In the civil law, this phrase is applied to appeals taken orally, in the presence of the judge, at the time of judgment or sentence.

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