In ecclesiastical law. The holy orders of priest, deacon, and subdeacon, any of which qualified for presentation and admission to an ecclesiastical dignity or cure were called "or dines majores;" and the inferior orders of chanters, psalmists, ostiary, reader, exorcist, and acolyte were called "ordines minores" Persons ordained to the ordines minores had their prima tonsura, … [Read more...]

See the Best Evidence Rule. A rule of evidence requiring a party to produce the original executed document as proof of an agreement unless the original document is unavailable due to destruction or other reasonable explanation that would justify its unavailability. … [Read more...]

Latin: In the civil law. The benefit or privilege of order; the privilege which a surety for a debtor had of requiring that his principal should be discussed, or thoroughly prosecuted, before the creditor could resort to him. Nov. 4, c. 1; Heinecc. Elem. lib. 3, tit. 21, 883. … [Read more...]

The first entry made by a merchant, tradesman, or other person in his account books, charging another with merchandise, materials, work, or labor, or cash, on a contract made between them. 2. This subject will be divided into three sections. 1. The form of the original entry. 2. The proof of such entry. 3. The effect. 3. Section 1. To make a valid original entry it must possess … [Read more...]

In old English law. Those of the religious who deserted their houses, and, throwing off the habits, renounced their particular order In contempt of their oath and other obligations. Paroch. Antlq. 388. cheap dissertation … [Read more...]