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

Category: P

PREDECESSOR

other like officer, for the bringing of a person or record before him. Cowell. The direction formerly issued by a sheriff to the proper returning officers of cities and boroughs within his

PREFECT

In French law. The name given to the public functionary who is charged in chief with the administration of the laws, in each department of the country. Merl. Repert See Crespin v.

PRENDER, PRENDRE

L. Fr. To take. The power or right of taking a thing without waiting for it to be offered. See A PKENDEB.

PRESUMPTION

main direction and administration of their concerns. Roe v. Bank of Versailles, 167 Mo. 406, 67 S. W. 303. The chief executive magistrate of a state or nation, particularly under a democratic

PRETORIUM

In Scotch law. A courthouse, or hall of justice. 3 How. State Tr. 425.

PRINCIPALIS

I,at. Principal; a principal debtor; a principal in a crime. Principalis deket semper excuti ante- quam per.cniatizr ad fidcijussores. The principal should always be exhausted before coming upon the sureties. 2 lust.

PRIVATEER

A vessel owned, equipped, and armed by one or more private individ uals, and duly commissioned by a belligerent power to go ou cruises and make war upon the enemy, usually by

PRO CONSILIO

For counsel given. An annuity pro connilio amounts to a condition, but in a feoffment or lease for life, etc., it is the consideration, and does not amount to a condition ;

PRO INDEFENSO

As undefended; as making no defense. A phrase in old practice. Fleta, lib. 1, c. 41,

PRO TANTO

For so much ; for as much as may be; as far as it goes.

PROBATORY TERM

This name is given, in the practice of the English admiralty courts, to the space of time allowed for the taking of testimony in an action, after issue formed.

PRODES HOMINES

A term said by Tomlins to be frequently applied in the ancient books to the barons of the realm, particularly as constituting a council or administration or government. It is probably a

PROFICUA

L. Lat In old English law. Profits; especially the “issues and profits” of an estate in land. See Co. Litt. 142.

PROPER

That which is fit, suitable, adapted, and correct. See Knox v. Lee, 12 Wall. 457, 20 L. Ed. 2S7; Griswold v. Hep burn, 2 Duv. (Ky.) 20; Westfield v. Warren, 8 N.

PROPRIETARY,

n. A proprietor or owner; one who lias the exclusive title to a thing; one who possesses or holds tlie title to a thing in his own right. The grantees of Pennsylvania

PROSEQUITUR

Lat. He follows up or pursues; he prosecutes. See NON PBOS.

PROVISION

form of asseveration which approaches very nearly to an oath. Wolff. Inst. Nat.

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