■ LA W. 83 



Common Law. — The unwritten law, the law that receives its 

 biiuliiig force from immemorial usage and universal recep- 

 tion, in distinction from the written or statute law. 



Contempt, or Con'tumacy. — A refusal to appear in court when 

 legally summoned, or other disobedience to its rules and 

 orders. 



Con'tract. — A covenant or agreement between two or more 

 persons with a lawful consideration. 



Convey'ance. — A deed which passes or conveys land from one 

 person to another. 



Convey'ancing, — The art of preparing the deeds or instru- 

 ments used for the transference of property from one per- 

 son to another. 



Cop'yright.— The sole right which an author has in his own 

 original literary compositions. 



Costs. — The expenses incurred in the prosecution or defence of 

 legal proceedings, of which there are two kinds, those be- 

 tween party and party, and those between attorney and 

 client. 



Cov'enant. — An agreement under seal. 



Cross-examination. — The interrogation of a witness by or on 

 behalf of the party against wliom the evidence is given. 



Damages. — The amount of money awarded by a jury to be 

 paid by a defendant to a plaintiff, as a compensation for 

 the injury of which the latter complains. 



Deben'ture. — A written instrument of the nature of a bond or 

 bill for a certain sum of money. 



De bonis non. — When an administrator dies, the right docs 

 not descend to his own representative, but a fresh grant 

 of administration must be obtained of the goods remaining 

 unadministered, and which is called an administration de 

 bonis non. 



Decree'. — The judgment of a court of equity on any bill 

 preferred. 



De Fac'to. — A thing actually done or existing. 



Default', — If a defendant omits to appear or plead to an action 

 within the time allowed, the plaintiff can sign judgment 

 by default. 



Defeas'ance. — A collateral deed made at the same time with a 

 deed of conveyance, containing conditions by the perform- 

 ance of which the estate created by the deed of convey- 

 ance may be defeated. 



