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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



1,951 words match “LAW”

COMPETENCE; COMPETENCY n.
ertion of the common cause. Burke. To make them act zealously is not in the competence of law. Burke.
COMPLAINANT n.
The party suing in equity, answering to the plaintiff at common law. He shall forfeit one moiety to the use of the town, and the other moiety to the use of the complainant. Statutes of Mass.
COMPLY v.
followed by with. Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply, Scandalous or forbidden in our law. Milton. They did servilely comply with the people in worshiping God by sensible images. Tillotson. He that complies against his will Is of his own opinion still. Hudibras.
COMPOSE v.
together, in a manner involving the adaptation of forms of expression to ideas, or to the laws of harmony or proportion; as, to compose a sentence, a sermon, a symphony, or a picture. Let me compose Something in verse as well as prose. Pope. The genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper". B. R.…
COMPOUND a.
ystal, or one seeming to be made up of two or more crystals combined according to regular laws of composition. -- Compound engine (Mech.), a form of steam engine in which the steam that has been used in a high-pressure cylinder is made to do further service in a larger low-pressure cylinder, sometimes in several large…
COMPURGATION n.
justifying or confirming a man's veracity by the oath of others; -- called also wager of law. See Purgation; also Wager of law, under Wager.
COMPURGATOR n.
testimony or swears to the veracity or innocence of another. See Purgation; also Wager of law, under Wager. All they who know me . . . will say they have reason in this matter to be my compurgators. Chillingworth.
CONCEALED a.
m sight; secreted. -- Con*ceal"ed*ly (, adv. -- Con*ceal"ed*ness, n. Concealed weapons (Law), dangerous weapons so carried on the person as to be knowingly or willfully concealed from sight, -- a practice forbidden by statute.
CONCLUSION n.
r by which a person is held to a particular position. Wharton. Conclusion to the country (Law), the conclusion of a pleading by which a party "puts himself upon the country," i.e., appeals to the verdict of a jury. Mozley & W. -- In conclusion. (a) Finally. (b) In short. -- To try conclusions, to make a trial or an e…
CONCLUSIVE a.
asons . . . equally conclusive for us as they were for them. Rogers. Conclusive evidence (Law), that of which, from its nature, the law allows no contradiction or explanation. -- Conclusive presumption (Law), an inference which the law makes so peremptorily that it will not allow it to be overthrown by any contrary pr…
CONCRETE a.
sical science, one having as its subject of knowledge concrete things instead of abstract laws. -- Concrete sound or movement of the voice, one which slides continuously up or down, as distinguished from a discrete movement, in which the voice leaps at once from one line of pitch to another. Rush.
CONCUBINAGE n.
A plea, in which it is alleged that the woman suing for dower was not lawfully married to the man in whose lands she seeks to be endowed, but that she was his concubine.
CONCUBINE n.
A wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition. Such were Hagar and Keturah, the concubines of Abraham; and such concubines were allowed by the Roman laws. Their children were not heirs of their father.
CONCURRENT a.
e act or opinion; contibuting to the same event of effect; coöperating. I join with these laws the personal presence of the kings' son, as a concurrent cause of this reformation. Sir J. Davies. The concurrent testimony of antiquity. Bp. Warburton.
CONCUSSION n.
The unlawful forcing of another by threats of violence to yield up something of value. Then concussion, rapine, pilleries, Their catalogue of accusations fill. Daniel. Concussion fuse (Mil.), one that is ignited by the concussion of the shell when it strikes.
CONDEMN v.
o groan. Gray. And they shall condemn him to death. Matt. xx. 18. The thief condemned, in law already dead. Pope. No flocks that range the valley free, To slaughter I condemn. Goldsmith.
CONDONE v.
To pardon; to overlook the offense of; esp., to forgive for a violation of the marriage law; -- said of either the husband or the wife.
CONDUCIBLE a.
Conducive; tending; contributing. Bacon. All his laws are in themselves conducible to the temporal interest of them that observe them. Bentley.
CONFEDERACY n.
A combination of two or more persons to commit an unlawful act, or to do a lawful act by unlawful means. See Conspiracy.
CONFESSION n.
extrajudical confession may be explained or rebutted. Wharton. Confession and avoidance (Law), a mode of pleading in which the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary, but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal effect claimed for them. Mozley & W. Confession of faith, a formulary containing…
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