Latin: In Roman law. A freedman who obtained his liberty by the direct operation of the will or testament of his deceased master was so called, being the freedman of the deceased, (orcinus,) not of the hceres. Brown. … [Read more...]

In English law. A statute made, touching matters and causes of the forest, 33 & 84 Edw. … [Read more...]

To ordain is to make an ordinance, to enact a law. 2. In the constitution of the United States, the preamble. declares that the people do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America. The 3d article of the same constitution declares, that the judicial power shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the congress may from time … [Read more...]

Lat. The law of procedure, as distinguished from the substantial part of the law. Ordinarius ita dicitur quia habet or dinariam jurisdictionem, in jure pro prio, et non propter deputationem. Co. Litt 96. The ordinary is so called because he has an ordinary jurisdiction in his own right, and not a deputed one. … [Read more...]

An ancient superstitious mode of tribal. When in a criminal case the accused was arraigned, be might select the mode of trial either by God and his country, that is, by jury; or by God only, that is by ordeal. 2. The trial by ordeal was either by fire or by water. Those who were tried by the former passed barefooted and blindfolded over nine hot glowing ploughshares; or were to … [Read more...]