Search the Dictionary

ons of success; a principle, maxim; or usage; as, the laws of poetry, of architecture, of courtesy, or of whist.

the game of tennis, played in the open air, sometimes upon a lawn, instead of in a tennis court. See Tennis.

An action at law; a suit in equity or admiralty; any legal proceeding before a court for the enforcement of a claim.

ts Law), the uttering of lies or libels upon the personal character of the sovereign, his court, or his family. Bp. Burnet.

A court-leet; the district within the jurisdiction of a court- leet; the day on which a court-leet is held. Shak.

One subject to the jurisdiction of a court-leet.

y, a tax paid to government on legacies. Wharton. -- Legacy hunter, one who flatters and courts any one for the sake of a legacy.

The place of business or official residence of a diplomatic minister at a foreign court or seat of government.

A minister or ambassador resident at a court or seat of government. [Written also lieger, leiger.] [Obs.] Sir Edward Carne, the queen's leger at Rome. Fuller.

Letters; literature. [Obs.] "To teach him letterure and courtesy." Chaucer.

the law of retaliation; lex terræ, the law of the land; lex fori, the law of the forum or court; lex loci, the law of the place; lex mercatoria, the law or custom of merchants.

One who libels; one who institutes a suit in an ecclesiastical or admiralty court. [Written also libellant.] Cranch.

rmission granted; leave; as, liberty given to a child to play, or to a witness to leave a court, and the like.

ick of the brush. Also, a small quantity of any substance so applied. [Colloq.] A lick of court white wash. Gray.

aw; to prosecute or defend by pleadings, exhibition of evidence, and judicial debate in a court; as, to litigate a cause.

man., whether a peer of the realm or not; a bishop, as a member of the House of Lords; by courtesy; the son of a duke or marquis, or the eldest son of an earl; in a restricted sense, a boron, as opposed to noblemen of higher rank. [Eng.]

rse off, esp. as the result of any kind of contest. We 'll . . . hear poor rogues Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too, Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's out. Shak.

Courtship; -- chiefly in the phrase to make love, i. e., to court, to woo, to solicit union in marriage. Demetrius . . . Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul. Shak.

Courtship. Bacon.

ight; resplendent; as, the lucid orbs of heaven. Lucid, like a glowworm. Sir I. Newton. A court compact of lucid marbles. Tennyson.