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

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OFFENSE

A crime or misdemeanor; a breach of the criminal laws. Moore v. Illinois, 14 How. 13, 14 L. Ed. 306; lilies v. Knight, 3 Tex. 312; People v. French. 102 N. Y.

OLD STYLE

The ancient calendar or method of reckoning time, whereby the year commenced on March 25th. It was superseded by the new style (that now in use) iD most countries of Europe in

ON CONDITION

These words may be construed to mean “on the terms,” in order to effectuate the intention of parties. Mea- nor v. McKowan, 4 Watts & S. (Pa.) 302.

ONOMASTIC

A term applied to the signature of an instrument, the body of which is in a different handwriting from that of the signature. Best, Ev. 315.

ORATRIX

A female petitioner; a female plaintiff in a bill in chancery was formerly so called.

ORPHAN

Any person (but particularly a minor or infant) who has lost both (or one) of his or her parents. More particularly, a fatherless child. Soohan v. Philadelphia, 33 Pa. 24; Poston v.

OTER LA TOUAILLE

In the laws of Oleron. To deny a seaman his mess. Literally, to deny the table-cloth or victuals for three meals.

OUTER HOUSE

The name given to the great hall of the parliament house in Edinburgh, in which the lords ordinary of the court of session sit as single judges to hear causes. The term

OUVERTURE DES SUCCESSIONS

In French law. The right of succession which arises to one upon the death, whether nat- ural or civil, of auother.

OVERT

Open; manifest; public; issuing in action, as distinguished from that which rests merely intention or design.

OBJECT, v

In legal proceedings, to object (e. ff., to the admission of evidence) is to interpose a declaration to the effect that the particular matter or thing under considera- tion is not done

OBROGARE

Lat. In the civil law. To pass a law contrary to a former law, or to some clause of it; to change a former law in some part of it Calviu.

OCCUPYING CLAIMANT ACTS

Statutes providing for the reimbursement of a bona fide occupant and claimant of land, on Its recovery by the true owner, to the extent to which lasting improvements made by him have

OFFENSIVE

In the law relating to nuisances and similar matters, this term means noxious, causing annoyance, discomfort, or painful or disagreeable sensations. See Rowland v. Miller (Super. N. Y.) 15 N. Y. Supp.

OLD TENURES

A treatise, so called to distinguish it from Littleton’s book on the same subject, which gives an account of the various tenures by which land was holden, the nature of estates, and

ON DEFAULT

In case of default; upon failure of stipulated action or performance; upon the occurrence of a failure, omission, or neglect of duty.

ONROERENDE AND VAST STAAT

Dutch. Immovable and fast estate, that is, land or real estate. The phrase is used in Dutch wills, deeds, and antenuptial contracts of the early colonial period in New York. See Spraker

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