Inn of Court. 1. Any of four autonomous institutions, one or more of which English barristers must join to receive their training and of which they remain members for life: The Honourable Societies of Lincoln’s Inn, the Middle Temple, the Inner Temple, and Gray’s Inn. • These powerful bodies examine candidates for the Bar, “call” […]
culprit. 1. A person accused or charged with the commission of a crime. 2. A person who is guilty of a crime. • Culprit may be a running together of cul, shortened from the Latin culpabilis (“guilty”), and prit, from Old French prest (“ready”), two words formerly used to orally plead at the outset of
acre. An area of land measuring 43,560 square feet. foot acre. A one-foot-deep layer of coal, water, or other material spread over one acre. • This measurement method is used to value coal land for tax purposes. It is also used to measure the volume and capacity of reservoirs.
The review of a taxpayer’s return by the IRS, including an examination of the taxpayer’s books, vouchers, and records supporting the return. — Also termed audit of return. [Cases: Internal Revenue 4443. C.J.S. Internal Revenue §§ 616, 618.]
beneficio primo ecclesiastico habendo (ben-[schwa]-fish-ee-oh pry-moh [ schwa]-klee-z[h]ee-as-t[schwa]-koh h[schwa]-ben-doh). [Latin “having the first ecclesiastical benefice”] Hist. A writ from the king to the lord chancellor ordering the appointment of a named person to the first vacant benefice.
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damnum emergens (dam-n[schwa]m i-m[schwa]r-jenz). [Latin “damage arising”] Hist. An actual realized loss (such as a decline in the value of property) as opposed to an expected future loss (such as loss of profit); consequential loss. “These kinds of damage are distinguished by the commentators as damnum emergens and lucrum cessans, which may be rendered ‘positive
failure to thrive. Family law. 1. A medical and psychological condition in which a child’s height, weight, and motor development fall significantly below average growth rates. • Failure to thrive is sometimes asserted as a ground for alleging abuse or neglect by a parent or caregiver. 2. A condition, occurring during the first three years
Copyright Act of 1790. The first U.S. copyright law, which, like England’s Statute of Anne, gave authors copyright protection for 14 years, renewable for another 14 years, after which time the work then entered the public domain.
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alternat (awl-t[schwa]r-nit or al-ter-nah). [French] The rotation in precedence among states, diplomats, etc., esp. in the signing of treaties. • This practice gives each diplomat a copy of the treaty with the diplomat’s signature appearing first.
caducary (k[schwa]-d[y]oo-k[schwa]-ree), adj. (Of a bequest or estate) subject to, relating to, or by way of escheat, lapse, or forfeiture of property (the statute was intended to waive the rights of the caducary heirs).