Search the Dictionary

The quality or state of being rational; agreement with reason; possession of reason; due exercise of reason; reasonableness. When God has made rationality the common portion of mankind, how came it to be thy inclosure Gov. of Tongue. Well-directed intentions, whose rationalities will never bear a rigid examination. Sir…

To acquire as an actual possession; to obtain as the result of plans and efforts; to gain; to get; as, to realize large profits from a speculation. Knighthood was not beyond the reach of any man who could by diligent thrift realize a good estate. Macaulay.

To claim back; to demand the return of as a right; to attempt to recover possession of. A tract of land [Holland] snatched from an element perpetually reclaiming its prior occupancy. W. Coxe.

To get or obtain again; to get renewed possession of; to win back; to regain. David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away. 1. Sam. xxx. 18.

The act of recovering, regaining, or retaking possession.

To purchase back; to regain possession of by payment of a stipulated price; to repurchase. If a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold. Lev. xxv. 29.

A resuming or retaking possession of what one has lately foregone; -- applied especially to land; the entry by a lessor upon the premises leased, on failure of the tenant to pay rent or perform the covenants in the lease. Burrill. Card of reëtry, (Whist), a card that by winning a trick will bring one the lead at an adv…

, by virtue of securing an official registration, obtains a certain right or title of possession, as to a trade-mark.

To place again in possession, or in a former state; to restore to a state from which one had been removed; to instate again; as, to reinstate a king in the possession of the kingdom. For the just we have said already thet some of them were reinstated in their pristine happiness and felicity. Glanvill.…

ght to, as lands or tenements, by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; to quit.

An estate in expectancy, generally in land, which becomes an estate in possession upon the determination of a particular prior estate, created at the same time, and by the same instrument; for example, if land be conveyed to A for life, and on his death to B, A's life interest is a particuar estate, and B's interest is…

back of a person to a title or right he had before; the restitution of one who obtains possession of property under a defective title, to his rights under some valid title by virtue of which he might legally have entered into possession only by suit. Bouvier.

To grant the possession and enjoyment of, for a rent; to lease; as, the owwner of an estate or house rents it.

A personal action which lies to recover possession of goods and chattle wrongfully taken or detained. Originally, it was a remedy peculiar to cases for wrongful distress, but it may generally now be brought in all cases of wrongful taking or detention. Bouvier.

To put in possession again; to reinstate. And then therein [in his kingdom] reseized was again. Spenser.

The act of resigning or giving up, as a claim, possession, office, or the like; surrender; as, the resignation of a crown or comission.

r determination of a council or deliberative assembly; a resolve; a decree. Then of their session ended they bid cry With trumpet's regal sound the great result. Milton.

To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like. "Thy shape invisibleretain." Shak. Be obedient, and retain Unalterably firm his love entire. Milton. An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator. Blackstone.…

ucted within another, to prolong the defense of the position when the enemy has gained possession of the outer work; or to protect the defenders till they can retreat or obtain terms for a capitulation.

To revert; to pass back into possession. And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David. 1Kings xii. 26.