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

Category: A

APPREHEND

To take hold of, whether with the mind, and so to conceive, believe, fear, dread, (Trogdon v. State, 133 Ind. I, 32 N. E. 725;) or actually and bodily, and so to

APPROVER

L. Fr. To approve or prove; to vouch. Kelham.

ARATORA TERRA

The plowing of land by the tenant, or vassal, in the service of his lord. Whishaw.

ARCTA ET SALVA CUSTODIA

Lat. In strict and safe custody or keeping. When a defendant is arrested on a capias ad satisfaciend u i/i, (ca. &’&.,) he is to be kept arcta et salva custodi. 3

ARIERBAN, OR ARRIERE-BAN

An edict of the ancient kings of France and Germany, commanding all their vassals, the noblesse, and the vassals’ vassals, to enter the army, or forfeit their estates on refusal. Spelman.

ARMORIAL BEARINGS

In English law. A device depicted on the (now imaginary) shield of one of the nobility, of which gentry is the lowest degree. The criterion of nobility is the bearing of arms,

ARRENT

In old English law. To let or demise at a fixed rent. Particularly used with reference to the public domain or crown lands; as where a license was granted to inclose land

ARRIER BAN

In feudal law. A second summons to join the lord, addressed to those who had neglected the first. A summons of the inferiors or vassals of the lord. Spelman.

ARTICLED CLERK

In English law. A clerk bound to serve in the office of a solicitor in consideration of being instructed in the profession. This is the general acceptation of the term ; but

ARTIFICIAL

Created by art, or by fav; existing only by force of or in contemplation of law.

ASSAULT

An unlawful attempt or offer. on the part of one man, with force or violence, to inflict a bodily hurt upon another. An attempt or offer to beat another, without touching him;

ASSURANCE

In conveyancing. A deed or instrument of conveyance. The legal evidences of the transfer of property are in England called the “common assurances” of the kingdom, whereby every man’s estate is assured

ATTACHIAMENTA BONOROM

A distress formerly taken upon goods and chattels, by the legal attachiators or bailiffs, as security to answer an action for personal estate or debt.

AUDITORS OF THE IMPREST

Officers in the English exchequer, who formerly had the charge of auditing the accounts of the customs, naval and military expenses, etc.. now performed by the commissioners for auditing public accounts.

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