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

Category: P

PARSONAGE

A certain portion of lands, tithes, and offerings, established by law, for the maintenance of the minister who has the cure of souls. Tomlins. The word is more generally used for the

PASS-BOOK

A book in which a bank or banker enters the deposits made by a cus- tomer, and which is retained by the latter. Also a book in which a merchant enters the

PATENTEE

He to whom a patent has been granted. The term is usually applied to one who has obtained letters patent for a new invention.

PATRIMONY

A right or estate inherited from one’s ancestors, particularly from direct male ancestors.

PAWNBROKER

A person whose business is to lend money, usually in small sums, on security of personal property deposited with him or left in pawn. Little Itock v. Barton, 33 Ark. 444; Schaul

PECORA

Lat. In Roman law. Cattle; beasts. The term included all quadrupeds that fed in flocks. Dig. 32, 05, 4.

PEERAGE

The rank or dignity of a peer or nobleman. Also the body of nobles taken collectively.

PENANCE

In ecclesiastical law. An ecclesiastical punishment inflicted by an ec- clesiastical court for some spiritual offense. Ayl. Par. 420.

PEON

n Mexico. A debtor held by his creditor in a qualified servitude to work out the debt; a serf. Webster. In India. A footman; a soldier; an inferior officer; a servant employed

PER FORMAM DONI

L. Lat. In English law. By the form of tlie gift; by tlie designation of the giver, and not by the operation of law. 2 Bl. Comm. 113, 191.

PER STIRPES

Lat. By roots or stocks; by representation. This term, derived from the civil law, is much used in the law of descents and distribution, and denotes that method of dividing an intestate

PERDUELLIO

Lat. In Roman law. Hostility or enmity towards the Roman republic; traitorous conduct on the part of a citizen, subversive of the authority of the laws or tending to overthrow the government.

PERIOD

Any point, space, or division of time. “The word ‘period’ has its etymo- logical meaning, but it also has a distinctive signification, according to the subject with which it may be used

PERPETUAL

Never ceasing; continuous ; enduring; lasting; unlimited in respect of time; continuing without intermission or interval. See Scanlan v. Crawshaw, 5 Mo. App. 337. Perpetual edict. In Roman law. Originally the term

PERSUASION

The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by anything that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination. See

PETITIONER

One who presents a petition to a court, officer, or legislative body. In legal proceedings begun by petition, the person against whom action or relief is prayed, or who opposes the prayer

PILLAGE

Plunder; the forcible taking of private property by an invading or con- quering army from the enemy’s subjects. American Ins. Co. v. Bryan, 26 Wend. (N. Y.) 573, 37 Am. Dec. 278.

PISCARY

The right or privilege of fishing. Thus, common of piscary is the right of fishing in waters belonging to another person.

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