A species of estate less than freehold where lands and tenements are let by one man to another to have and to hold at the will of the lessor; and the tenant by force of this lease obtains possession. … [Read more...]

See ELEGIT. … [Read more...]

An estate whereby the creditor, under the custom of London, retained the possession of all his debtor's lands until his debts were paid. 1 Greenl. Cruise, Dig. 515. See STATUTE MERCHANT. … [Read more...]

Tenant by the curtesy of England is where a man survives a wife who was seised in fee simple or fee-tail of lands or tenements, and has had issue male or female by her born alive and capable of inheriting the wife's estate as heir to her; in which case he will, on the decease of his wife, hold the estate during his life as tenant by the curtesy of England. 2 Crabb, Real Prop, f … [Read more...]

This word occurs frequently in the constitution of the United States, and it is there used in different meanings: (1) To settle firmly, to fix unalterably ; as to establish justice, which is the avowed object of the constitution. (2) To make or form; as to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies, which evidently does not mean … [Read more...]