Historical Records DICTIONARY
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| WORD | Syllabication | Source |
| abjure |
ab·jure |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
Transitive VERB:to disclaim formally or renounce upon oath |
| adduce |
ad·duce |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
Transitive NOUN: to bring forward (as an example, reason, or proof) for consideration in a discussion, analysis, or contention : OFFER, PRESENT, CITE |
| alien |
|
Law.com Dictionary |
| Definition |
VERB: to convey title to property |
| aliunde |
al·i·un·de |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
ADVERB: from another source : from elsewhere |
| assumpsit |
|
|
| Definition |
NOUN: An action to recover damages for a breach or nonperformance of a contract or promise, express or implied, oral or in writing not under seal. |
| attachment |
|
Law.com Dictionary |
| Definition |
NOUN: the seizing of money or property prior to getting a judgment in court, in contemplation that the plaintiff will win at trial (usually in simple cases of money owed) and will require the money or property to satisfy the judgment. |
| buskin |
bus·kin |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: a woman's low-cut house shoe in leather or fabric having a piece of elastic goring at the instep or a strong thick-soled laced foot covering with a legging reaching halfway or more to the knee |
| capias |
ca·pi·as |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: a legal writ or process commanding the officer to arrest the person named in it |
| certiorari |
sersh-oh-rare-ee |
Law.com Dictionary |
| Definition |
NOUN: a writ (order) of a higher court to a lower court to send all the documents in a case to it so the higher court can review the lower court's decision. |
| cestui que trust |
ses-tee kay |
Law.com Dictionary |
| Definition |
NOUN: An old-fashioned expression for the beneficiary of a trust. Lawyers popularly pronounce it setty kay. |
| demijohn |
demi·john |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: a narrow-necked bottle of glass or stoneware holding from one to 10 gallons that is enclosed in wickerwork and has one or two wicker handles |
| demurrer |
de·mur·rer |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary |
| Definition |
NOUN: a response in a court proceeding in which the defendant does not dispute the truth of the allegation but claims it is not sufficient grounds to justify legal action |
| dray |
dray |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
VERB: to haul goods usually locally |
| drayage |
dray·age |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: the charge or sum paid for draying (as of goods) |
| Elisor |
eli·sor |
Answers.com |
| Definition |
A judicial officer appointed to act in the stead of a sheriff when the sheriff and any other authorized official (as a coroner) are unable or unqualified to act |
| ex parte |
|
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
ADJECTIVE: used of such legal matters as injunctions, commissions, hearings, and testimony and implying a hearing or examination in the presence of or on papers filed by one party and in the absence of and often without notice to the other party |
| gainsay |
gain·say |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
VERB: to speak against |
| galloon |
gal·loon |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
| Definition |
NOUN: A narrow band or braid used as trimming and commonly made of lace, metallic thread, or embroidery. |
| implead |
im·plead |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
VERB: to include or incorporate as part of or party to a legal suit or action |
| instanter |
in·stan·ter |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
ADVERB: at once, immediately, instantly |
| interlocutory |
in·ter·loc·u·to·ry |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
ADJECTIVE: not final or definitive : made or done during the progress of an action : INTERMEDIATE, PROVISIONAL |
| lasting |
|
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: a sturdy cotton or worsted cloth in twill or satin weave made in narrow widths for use especially in the shoe and luggage trades |
| lill |
|
|
| Definition |
|
| lull |
|
|
| Definition |
|
| nihil habet |
nihil ha·bet |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: a return by a sheriff or other officer made on a scire facias or other writ indicating that the defendant has no property within reach of the process, and the defendant has not been served |
| nisi |
ni-si |
Answers.com |
| Definition |
ADJECTIVE: Generally, a rule nisi is an order “to show cause” , meaning that the ruling is absolute unless the party to whom it applies can show cause why it should not apply. |
| nolle prosequi |
no-lay pro-say-kwee |
Law.com Dictionary |
| Definition |
NOUN: Latin for "we shall no longer prosecute," |
| non-suit |
|
Law.com Dictionary |
| Definition |
NOUN: Judge’s ruling, when plaintiff doesn’t proceed to trial at the appointed time or has presented all evidence and, in the Judge’s Opinion, there is not enough to prove the case. A non-suit ends the trial and results in a judgment for the defendant. |
| nunc pro tunc |
|
|
| Definition |
ADJ: Latin for “Now for Then”, this phrase is used to express that a thing is done at one time which ought to have been performed at another. A judgment nunc pro tunc can be entered only when the delay has arisen from the act of the court. |
| nuncupative |
nun·cu·pa·tive |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
ADJECTIVE: stated verbally : ORAL -- used chiefly of a will |
| parol |
pa·rol |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: an oral declaration or statement, word of mouth |
| Pinders |
pin·der |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: Peanut |
| Pluries |
plu·ri·es |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: any of one or more writs (as of fieri facias) issued after the first and alias writs have proved ineffectual |
| precipe |
pre·ci·pe |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: a written order addressed to the clerk of a court requesting the issuance of a specified writ and containing the pertinent information therefore. |
| scire facias |
sci·re fa·ci·as |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: a judicial writ founded upon some matter of record and requiring the party proceeded against to show cause why the record should not be enforced, annulled, or vacated |
| similiter |
si·mil·i·ter |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: a reply by which the pleader in a common law pleading concurs with the other party in requesting trial by jury |
| sine die |
|
DUHAIME'S LAW DICTIONARY |
| Definition |
ADVERB: Adjourned without giving any future date of meeting or hearing. A court that adjourns sine die essentially dismisses the case by saying that it never wants to hear the case again! A meeting which adjourns sine die has not set a next meeting date. |
| specie |
spe·cie |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: in the identical form and without alteration or substitution -- used chiefly in law |
| steelyard |
steel·yard |
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
NOUN: a portable balance for weighing designed to be suspended (as from a hook or the free hand of the user) when in operation -- called also lever scales |
| supersedeas |
sooh-purr-said-ee-uhs |
Law.com Dictionary |
| Definition |
NOUN: Latin for "you shall desist," an order (writ) by an appeals court commanding a lower court not to enforce or proceed with a judgment or sentence pending the decision on the appeal or until further order of the appeals court. |
| trespass on the case |
|
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
: a form of action or a writ formerly employed to redress various wrongs or injuries to person or property which were not the immediate result of alleged violence and for which no adequate remedy was provided by the common-law action of trespass |
| trover |
tro-ver |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
| Definition |
NOUN: A common-law action to recover damages for property illegally withheld or wrongfully converted to use by another. |
| venire facias |
|
|
| Definition |
NOUN: A judicial writ or precept directed to the sheriff, requiring him to cause a certain number of qualified persons to appear in court at a specified time, to serve as jurors in said court. |
| vi et armis |
|
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
ADVERB: with force and arms -- used of a trespass to person or property which is the immediate cause of damage |
| viz |
|
Merriam-Webster Unabridged |
| Definition |
ABREVIATION: namely |