An enforceable contract where one party promises to keep an offer open for a specific period of time in return for consideration. … [Read more...]

The plaintiff in a cause or matter in chancery, when addressing or petitioning the court, used to style himself "orator," and, when a woman, "oratrix." But these terms have long gone into disuse, and the customary phrases now are "plaintiff" or "petitioner." In Roman law, the term denoted an advocate. … [Read more...]

In old England practice. That species of original writ, otherwise called a "prcecipe," which was framed in the alternative, commanding the defendant to do the thing required, or show the reason wherefore he had not done it. 3 BL Comm. 274. … [Read more...]

A female petitioner; a female plaintiff in a bill in chancery was formerly so called. … [Read more...]

Latin: Work; labor; the product of work or labor, Opus locatum. The product of work let for use to another; or the hiring out of work or labor to be done npon a thing. Opus manincum. In old English law. Labor done by the hands; manual labor; such as making a hedge, digging a ditch. Fleta, lib. 2, c 48, { 8. Opus novum. In the civil law. A new work. By this term was meant … [Read more...]