EST 
EST 
antiquity, one of the three ancient sects 
among that people, who outdid the Pha- 
risees in their most rigorous observances. 
They allowed a future state, but denied a 
resurrection from the dead. Their way of 
life was very singular ; they did not marry, 
but adopted the children of others, whom 
they bred up in the institutions of their 
sect ; they despised riches, and had all 
things in common ; and never changed their 
clothe? till they were entirely worn out. 
When initiated, they were strictly bound 
not to communicate the mysteries of their 
sect to others ; and if any of their members 
were found guilty of enormous crimes, they 
were expelled. 
ESSENTIAL, something necessarily be- 
longing to the essence or nature of a thing, 
from which it cannot be conceived distinct ; 
thus the primary qualities of bodies, as ex- 
tension, figure, number, &c. are essential or 
inseparable from them in all their changes 
and alterations. 
Essential character. See Charac- 
ters. 
Essential otl t that procured from plants 
by distillation. See Oil. 
Essential salts, those obtained from 
vegetable juices by crystallization. See 
Salt. 
ESSOIN, -signifies the allegation of an 
excuse for him that is summoned, or sought 
for, to appear and answer to an action real, 
or to perforin suit to a court baron, upon 
just cause of absence. There are various 
kinds of excuses which were formerly allow- 
ed, but the practice of essoins is obsolete. 
ESTABLISHMENT of dower, in law, 
the assurance of dower made to the wife 
by the husband, or his friends, before or at 
marriage. Assignment of dower, is the 
setting it out by the heir afterwards, ac- 
cording to the establishment. 
ESTATE, in law, that title or interest 
which a man hath in lands or tenements, 
&c. This may be considered in a threefold 
manner : 1. as to the quantity of interest 
which the party has ; 2. the time when that 
interest is to be enjoyed ; 3. the number and 
connections of the parties who are to enjoy it. 
I. r flie first is measured by its duration 
or extent, which may be for an uncertain 
period, during his own life or the life of 
another man, to determine at his own de- 
cease, or to remain to his descendants 
after him ; or it is for years, months, or 
days, or infinite and unlimited, being to a 
man and his heirs for ever. This occasions 
the division into estates of freehold, and less 
than freehold. The former is any estate of 
inheritance or for life, either in a corporeal 
or incorporeal hereditament, existing in or 
arising from real property of free tenure, 
that is now of all which is not copyhold ; 
but tithes and spiritual dues may be free- 
hold, though they issue out of lands not 
freehold. Freeholds may be considered 
either as estates of inheritance, or not of in- 
heritance. The former are of inheritance 
absolute, called fee-simple ; or inheritance 
limited, one species of whicii is called fee- 
tail. Limited fees are such estates of inhe- 
ritance as are clogged with conditions or 
qualifications, which may be either, 1st. 
qualified or base fees ; or, 2nd. fees condi- 
tional. The former is instanced by a grant 
to A and his heirs, tenants of the manors of 
Dale, which may continue for ever if the 
heirs of A still continue tenants of Dale ; 
but being subjected to a condition which 
lowers or debases the certainty of the te- 
nure, it is called a base fee. For fee-tail, 
see Fee tail in this Dictionary, et post. Of 
estates of freehold for life only some may 
be called conventional, such as are created 
by act of the parties, others merely legal or 
arising by operation of law'. For estates for 
life conventional, see Life estate. The 
latter are tenant in tail after possibility of 
issue extinct, tenant by the curtesy, and 
tenant in dower, which see. 
Of estates less than freehold there are 
three sorts : 1. estates for years; 2. at will. 
See Lease. 3. estates by sufferance. Be- 
sides there are some estates upon condition 
as on mortgage estates by statute merchant ; 
statute staple ; elegit ; which see. 
II. Thus far we consider the quantity of 
the interest. Secondly, as to the time of 
their enjoyment, which is present or future, 
they are divided into estates in possession or 
expectancy. The latter are divided into 
estates in remainder and reversion, which 
lead to very nice and abstruse distinctions. 
See Remainder, Reversion, Execu- 
tory Devise, Limitation, he. On this 
head, as to the certainty and time of enjoy- 
ment, estates are, 1st. vested in possession : 
2nd. vested in interest, as reversions ; 
vested remainders ; such executory devises, 
future uses, conditional limitations, &c. as 
are not referred to or made to depend on a 
period w'hich is uncertain : 3d. estates con- 
tingent which are referred to a condition or 
event, which is uncertain whether it may 
happen or not. An estate is vested w'hen 
there is an immediate fixed right of present 
or future enjoyment. It is vested in posses- 
sion when there is a right of present enjoy- 
ment ; vested in interest where a present 
