1. An act violating a legal condition or obligation; esp., an entail heir’s act that conflicts with the entail provision.
2. French law. A criminal breach of a law, treaty, or agreement; a minor violation of the law. • A contravention is traditionally punishable by peines de police, usu. a fine not exceeding 15 francs and imprisonment not exceeding three days. See public-welfare offense under OFFENSE(1).
“We might get [terminological] help from the practice of Continental Europe in which three classes of punishable offenses are maintained — crimes, delicts, and contraventions. The last word is used for those minor violations of regulations, all of them necessary enough for public safety and convenience, which are so numerous and so detailed in our lives. It is a convenient term and is widely used in the United States for just such acts, but it has not yet been made official. The Continental practice has the advantage of using the word crimes only for really serious offenses, which is in conformity with popular feeling on the subject.” Max Radin, The Law and You 92 (1948).
3. Scots law. An action brought for breach of a peace bond. See LAWBURROWS.
4. Hist. Scots law. An act committed in violation of a legal condition or obligation, esp. one done contrary to a deed by an heir to an en-tailment.
