law and literature. (often cap.) 1. Traditionally, the study of how lawyers and legal institutions are depicted in literature; esp., the examination of law-related fiction as sociological evidence of how a given culture, at a given time, views law. — Also termed law in literature. 2. More modernly, the application of literary theory to legal […]
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Citations, Law of. Roman law. An A.D. 426 decree of Emperor Valentinian III listing Papinian, Paul, Gaius, Ulpian, and Modestinus as juristic writers who could be cited authoritatively in court. • If a majority of the writers agreed on an issue, the judge was bound to follow the majority view. The Law of Citations allowed
Law French. The corrupted form of the Norman French language that arose in England in the centuries after William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066 and that was used for several centuries as the primary language of the English legal system; the Anglo-French used in medieval England in judicial proceedings, pleadings, and lawbooks. — Abbr.
lego-literary (lee-goh-lit-[schwa]r-er-ee), adj. Rare. Of or relating to law and literature. See LAW AND LITERATURE.
obscenity, n. 1. The characteristic or state of being morally abhorrent or socially taboo, esp. as a result of referring to or depicting sexual or excretory functions. [Cases: Constitutional Law 82(10), 90.4; Obscenity 1. C.J.S. Constitutional Law §§ 464, 546, 631, 635–637, 639, 644, 646–648; Obscenity§§ 1–8.] 2. Something (such as an expression or act)
practicks (prak-tiks). Hist. Scots law. (usu. pl.) An old collection of notes about points of practice, decisions of the Court of Sessions, statutes, and forms, compiled by members of the court. • An example is Balfour’s Practicks (1469–1579). A precursor of law reports, the notes remain historical legal literature of some authority.
developing country. Int’l law. A country that is not as economically or politically advanced as the main industrial powers. • Developing countries are located mostly in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin and South America. — Also termed developing state; underdeveloped country; less-developed country; Third World country. “Pertinent terminology has undergone extensive
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carnal knowledge. Archaic. Sexual intercourse, esp. with an underage female. — Sometimes shortened to knowledge. [Cases: Incest 6; Rape 7. C.J.S. Incest § 5; Rape § 17.] “The ancient term for the act itself was ‘carnal knowledge’ and this is found in some of the recent cases and statutes. The phrase ‘sexual intercourse,’ more common
Codex Gregorianus (koh-deks gri-gor-ee-ay-n[schwa]s). [Latin] Roman law. A collection of imperial con-stitutions compiled by the Roman jurist Gregorius and published in A.D. 291. — Also termed Gregorian Code. “The imperial enactments, rapidly increasing in number, covering, at hazard, the whole range of law, and, by reason of difficulties of communication and imperfect methods of promulgation,