condemn, vb. 1. To judicially pronounce (someone) guilty. 2. To determine and declare (property) to be assigned to public use. See EMINENT DOMAIN. 3. To adjudge (a building) as being unfit for habitation. 4. To adjudge (food or drink) as being unfit for human consumption. 5. Maritime law. To declare (a vessel) to be forfeited […]
contubernium (kon-t[y]uu-b[schwa]r-nee-[schwa]m). [Latin] Roman law. A marriage-like union between slaves. • Contubernium was recognized in the United States. Before slavery was abolished, only one Southern court gave a marriage between slaves legal effect upon manumission. See Girod v. Lewis, 6 Mart. (O.S.) 559, 559–60 (La. 1819). In 1825, the Louisiana legislature passed a law expressly
maintenance, n. 1. The continuation of something, such as a lawsuit. 2. The continuing possession of something, such as property. 3. The assertion of a position or opinion; the act of upholding a position in argument. 4. The care and work put into property to keep it operating and productive; general repair and upkeep. 5.
saevitia (si-vish-ee-[schwa]). [Latin fr. saevus “cruel”] Hist. Cruelty in a marriage, as a result of which cohabitation is dangerous enough to justify a decree of separation.
Scots law. A marriage by consensual contract, without the necessity of a formal ceremony. • Until 1940, Scots law retained the medieval canon-law forms of marriage per verba de praesenti and per verba de futuro subsequente copula. These promises constituted irregular but valid marriages. Scots law still retains the irregular marriage by cohabitation with habit
castle doctrine. Criminal law. An exception to the retreat rule allowing the use of deadly force by a person who is protecting his or her home and its inhabitants from attack, esp. from a trespasser who intends to commit a felony or inflict serious bodily harm. — Also termed dwelling defense; defense of habitation. See
vagrant, adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a vagrant; inclined to vagrancy. 2. Nomadically homeless. [Cases: Vagrancy 1. C.J.S. Vagrancy §§ 2–12, 22–27, 31–32, 35–37.] vagrant, n. 1. At common law, anyone belonging to the several classes of idle or disorderly persons, rogues, and vagabonds. 2. One who, not having a settled habitation,