VIGILANTE

An individual who enforces the law without authority and seeks to punish an alleged criminal for wrongdoing. … [Read more...] about VIGILANTE

1. Proper attention in proper time. 2. The law requires a man who has a claim to enforce it in proper time, while the adverse party has it in his power to defend himself; and if by his neglect to do so, he cannot afterwards establish such claim, the maxim vigilantibus non dormientibus leges subserviunt, acquires full force in such case. For example, a claim not sued for within … [Read more...] about VIGILANCE

In ecclesiastical law. The eve or next day before any solemn feast. … [Read more...] about VIGIL

L. Fr. In old English law. A vivum vadium or living pledge, as distin-guished from a mortgage or dead pledge. Properly, an estate given as security for a debt, the debt to be satisfied out of the rents, issues, and profits. … [Read more...] about VIF-GAGE

Persons who are appointed by a court to make an investigation of certain matters, or to examine a particular locality, (as, the proposed site of a new road,) and to report to the court the result of their inspection, with their opinion on the same. In old practice. Persons appointed under writs of view to testify the view. Rose Real Act. 253. … [Read more...] about VIEWERS