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

DIOCESAN COURTS

In English law. The consistorial courts of each diocese, exercisinggeneral jurisdiction of all matters arising locally within their respective limits, withthe exception of places subject to peculiar Jurisdiction; deciding all matters of

DIPTYCHA

Diptychs; tablets of wood, metal, or other substance, used among theRomans for the purpose of writing, and folded like a book of two leaves. The diptychsof antiquity were especially employed for public

DIOCESE

The territorial extent of a bishop’s jurisdiction. The circuit of everybishop’s jurisdiction. Co. Litt 94; 1 Bl. Comm. 111.

DIOICHXA

The district over which a bishop exercised his spiritual functions.

DIP

In mining law. The line of declination of strata; the angle which measures thedeviation of a mineralized vein or lode from the vertical plane; the slope or slant of avein, away from

DIPLOMA

In the civil law. A royal charter; letters patent granted by a prince orsovereign. Calvin.An instrument given by colleges and societies on the conferring of any degrees.State v. Gregory, 83 Mo. 130,

DIPLOMACY

The science which treats of the relations and interests of nations with nations.Negotiation or intercourse between nations through their representatives. The rules,customs, and privileges of representatives at foreign courts.

DIPLOMATICS

The science of diplomas, or of ancient writings and documents; theart of judging of ancient charters, public documents, diplomas, etc., and discriminatingthe true from the false. Webster.

DIPSOMANIAC

A person subject to dipsomania. One who has an irresistible desire for alcoholic liquors. See INSANITT.

DIRECT

Immediate; by the shortest course; without circuity; operating by animmediate connection or relation, Instead of operating through a medium; the oppositeof indirect.In the usual or natural course or line; immediately upwards or

DIRECT ATTACK

A direct attack on a judgment or decree is an attempt, for sufficient cause, to have it annulled, reversed, vacated, corrected, declared void, or enjoined, in a proceeding instituted for that specific

DIRECT INTEREST

A direct interest, such as would render the interested party incompetent to testify in regard to the matter, is an interest which is certain, and not contingent or doubtful. A matter which

DIRECT LINE

Property is said to descend or be inherited in the direct line when it passes in linealsuccession: from ancestor to son, grandson, great-grandson, and so on.

DIRECT PAYMENT

One which is absolute and unconditional as to the time, amount, and thepersons by whom and to whom it is to be made. People v. Boy- Ian (C. C.) 25 Fed. 595.See

DIRECTION

1. The act of governing; management; superintendence. Also the bodyof persons (called “directors”) who are charged with the management and administrationof a corporation or institution.2. The charge or instruction given by the

DIRECTOR OF THE MINT

An officer having the control, management, andsuperintendence of the United States mint and its branches. He is appointed by thepresident, by and with the advice and consent of the senate.

DIRECTORS

Persons appointed or elected according to law, authorized to manageand direct the affairs of a corporation or company. The whole of the directors collectivelyform the board of directors. BrandtGodwin (City Ct.) 3

DIRECTORY

A provision in a statute, rule of procedure, or the like, is said to bedirectory when it is to be considered as a mere direction or instruction of no obligatoryforce, and Involving

DIRECTORY TRUST

Where, by the terms of a trust, the fund is directed to be vested in a particular manner till the period arrives at which it is to be appropriated, this is called

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