maintain, vb. 1. To continue (something). 2. To continue in possession of (property, etc.). 3. To assert (a position or opinion); to uphold (a position or opinion) in argument. 4. To care for (property) for purposes of operation productivity or appearance; to engage in general repair and upkeep. 5. To support (someone) financially; esp., to […]
mere right. An abstract right in property, without possession or even the right of possession. — Also termed jus merum; merum jus; meer dreit. “The mere right of property, the jus proprietatis, without either possession or even the right of possession. This is frequently spoken of in our books under the name of the mere
chose (shohz), n. [French] A thing, whether tangible or intangible; a personal article; a chattel. See THING. chose in action. 1. A proprietary right in personam, such as a debt owed by another person, a share in a joint-stock company, or a claim for damages in tort. [Cases: Property 5. 5. C.J.S. Property § 22;
Statute of Uses. Hist. An English statute of 1535 that converted the equitable title held by a cestui que use (i.e., a beneficiary) to a legal one in order to make the cestui que use liable for feudal dues, as only a legal owner (the feoffee to uses) could be. • This statute was the
jumping a claim. Hist. The act of taking possession of public land to which another has previously acquired a claim. • The first occupant has the right to the land both under squatter law and custom and under preemption laws of the United States.
instrument. 1. A written legal document that defines rights, duties, entitlements, or liabilities, such as a contract, will, promissory note, or share certificate. “An ‘instrument’ seems to embrace contracts, deeds, statutes, wills, Orders in Council, orders, warrants, schemes, letters patent, rules, regulations, bye-laws, whether in writing or in print, or partly in both; in fact,
gun-control law. A statute or ordinance that regulates the sale, possession, or use of firearms. • Gun-control laws vary widely among the states, and many cities have gun-control ordinances. Federal law restricts and regulates the illegal sale, possession, and use of firearms. 18 USCA §§ 921–930. See BRADY ACT. [Cases: Weapons 3. C.J.S. Weapons §§
quare ejecit infra terminum (kwair-ee i-jee-sit in-fr[schwa] t[schwa]r-m[ schwa]-n[schwa]m), n. [Law Latin “why he ejected within the term”] Hist. A writ for a lessee who was prematurely ejected, when the ejector was not actually in possession but one claiming under the ejector was. “For this injury the law has provided him with two remedies …
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concord (kon-kord orkong-), n. 1. An amicable arrangement between parties, esp. between peoples or nations; a compact or treaty. 2. Archaic. An agreement to compromise and settle an action in trespass. “Concord is an Agreement made between two or more, upon a Trespass committed; and is divided into Concord executory, and Concord executed… ; one
subtraction. 1. The process of deducting one number from another number to determine the difference. 2. Hist. The act of neglecting a duty or service that one party owes to another, esp. one that arises out of land tenure. “Subtraction, which is the fifth species of injuries affecting a man’s real property, happens, when any