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Fixedness; as, fixity of tenure; also, that which is fixed.

A species of tenure in fee simple, being the opposite of ancient demesne, or copyhold. Burrill.

A certain tenure in tail special; an estate of inheritance given to a man his wife (the wife being of the blood of the donor), and descendible to the heirs of their two bodies begotten. [Obs.] Blackstone.

A tenure by which a religious corporation holds lands given to them and their successors forever, usually on condition of praying for the soul of the donor and his heirs; -- called also tenure by free alms. Burrill.

from capture even though carrying enemy's goods. -- Free socage (O.Eng. Law), a feudal tenure held by certain services which, though honorable, were not military. Abbott. -- Free States, those of the United States before the Civil War, in which slavery had ceased to exist, or had never existed. -- Free stuff (Carp.…

estate in real property, of inheritance (in fee simple or fee tail) or for life; or the tenure by which such estate is held. Kent. Burrill. To abate into a freehold. See under Abate.

A tenure by which land descended from the father to all his sons in equal portions, and the land of a brother, dying without issue, descended equally to his brothers. It still prevails in the county of Kent. Cowell.

ack." Jowett (Thucyd.). -- To hang by the eyelids. (a) To hang by a very slight hold or tenure. (b) To be in an unfinished condition; to be left incomplete. -- To hang in doubt, to be in suspense. -- To hang on (with the emphasis on the preposition), to keep hold; to hold fast; to stick; to be persistent, as a disea…

One who by his tenure was to maintain a horse for military service; a kind of light horseman in the Middle Ages who was mounted on a hobby. Hallam. Sir J. Davies.

A tenure; a farm or other estate held of another.

Not liable to be removed; permanent in place or tenure; fixed; as, an immovable estate. See Immovable, n. Blackstone. Immovable apparatus (Med.), an appliance, like the plaster of paris bandage, which keeps fractured parts firmly in place. -- Immovable feasts (Eccl.), feasts which occur on a certain day of the year an…

to serve to the use or benefit of; as, a gift of lands inures to the heirs. [Written also enure.]

r being usually transferable without the consent of the rest. -- Joint tenancy (Law), a tenure by two or more persons of estate by unity of interest, title, time, and possession, under which the survivor takes the whole. Blackstone. -- Joint tenant (Law), one who holds an estate by joint tenancy.

A tenure of lands held by knights on condition of performing military service. See Chivalry, n., 4.

(Feud. Law) The military service by rendering which a knight held his lands; also, the tenure of lands held on condition of performing military service.

Any tenure by grant or permission; the time for which such a tenure holds good; allotted time. Our high-placed Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature. Shak. Lease and release a mode of conveyance of freehold estates, formerly common in England and in New York. its place is now supplied by a simple deed of grant. Burril…

A tenure by lease; specifically, land held as personalty under a lease for years.

serving an independent sovereign or master; bound by a feudal tenure; obliged to be faithful and loyal to a superior, as a vassal to his lord; faithful; loyal; as, a liege man; a liege subject.

times taking a similar form, membership of which confers some distinction. -- Military tenure, tenure of land, on condition of performing military service.

ssion; actual possession and control; the state of being occupied; a holding or keeping; tenure; use; as, the occupation of lands by a tenant.