In medical jurisprudence. A psychic or mental state rendering the patient susceptible to suggestion at the will of another. The hypnotic state is an abnormal condition o of the mind and senses, in the nature of trance, artificial catalepsy, or somnambulism, induced in one person by another, by concentration of the attention, a strong effort of volition, and perhaps the exercise … [Read more...]

In English criminal law. A kind of sledge, on which convicted felons were drawn to the place of execution. … [Read more...]

Slang term to denote payment of money or a bribe to stay silent on a matter. … [Read more...]

In the civil law. The name of the bequest or legacy given by the husband to his wife, at his death, above her dowry. … [Read more...]

A storm of great violence or intensity, of which the particular characteristic is the high velocity of the wind. There is naturally no exact measure to distinguish between an ordinary storm and a hurricane, but the wind should reach a velocity of at least 50 or 60 miles an hour to be called by the latter name, or, as expressed in some of the cases, it should be sufficient to … [Read more...]