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To gain upon in a chase; to overtake. To overhaul a tackle, to pull on the leading parts so as to separate the blocks. -- To overhaul running rigging, to keep it clear, and see that no hitch occurs.

jurists, made in the sixth century by direction of the emperor Justinian, and forming the leading compilation of the Roman civil law. Kent.

Of or pertaining to pantheism; founded in, or leading to, pantheism. -- Pan`the*is"tic*al*ly, adv.

A retort or still having a curved tube or tubes leading back from the head to the body for continuous condensation and redistillation.

Pertaining to, or designating, an acid of sulphur obtained by leading hydrogen sulphide into a solution of sulphur dioxide; -- so called because it contains five atoms of sulphur.

An out-of-door flight of steps, as in a garden, leading to a terrace or to an upper story; -- usually applied to mediævel or later structures of some architectural pretensions.

Of or pertaining to pleas or pleading, in courts of law. [Obs.] Clayton.

A plea; a pleading; a judicial proceeding; a suit. Burrill.

One who draws up or forms pleas; the draughtsman of pleas or pleadings in the widest sense; as, a special pleader.

mpressed air from the wind chest to move them. -- Pneumatic dispatch, a system of tubes, leading to various points, through which letters, packages, etc., are sent, by the flow and pressure of air. -- Pneumatic elevator, a hoisting machine worked by compressed air. -- Pneumatic pile, a tubular pile or cylinder of la…

The leading woman of a group, esp. in a theatrical cast.

d by, immemorial or long-continued use and enjoyment; as, a prescriptive right of title; pleading the continuance and authority of long custom. The right to be drowsy in protracted toil has become prescriptive. J. M. Mason.

Wires leading from various points of an electric system to a central station, where a voltmeter indicates the potential of the system at those points.

: [L.] (Law), taken as confessed. The action of a court of equity on that portion of the pleading in a particular case which the pleading on the other side does not deny. -- Pro rata. Etym: [L. See Prorate.] In proportion; proportion. -- Pro re nata Etym: [L.] (Law), for the existing occasion; as matters are.…

Any court or vestibule before a building or leading into any inclosure.

One who takes the leading part in a drama; hence, one who takes lead in some great scene, enterprise, conflict, or the like. Shakespeare, the protagonist on the great of modern poetry. De Quincey.

Formerly, a declaration in common-law pleading, by which the party interposes an oblique allegation or denial of some fact, protesting that it does or does not exist, and at the same time avoiding a direct affirmation or denial.

ate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question. -- Leading question. See under Leading. -- Out of question, unquestionably. "Out of question, 't is Maria's hand." Shak. -- Out of the question. See under Out. -- Past question, beyond question; certainly; undoubtedly; unquestiona…

r to explain the reasons on which the transaction is founded; the statement of matter in pleading introductory to some positive allegation. Burn.

Surplusage inserted in a pleading which may be rejected by the court without impairing the validity of what remains.