Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

1038

RETEOSPECTIVE LAW

RETONSOR

RETRACTUS AQUiE. The ebb or re turn of a tide. Cowell. RETRACTUS FEUDALIS. In old Scotch law. The power which a superior possessed of paying off a debt due to an ad judging creditor, and taking a conveyance to the adjudication. Bell. RETRAIT. Fr. In old French and Cana dian law. The taking back of a fief by the seignior, in case of alienation by the vassal. A right of pre-emption by the seignior, in case of sale of the land by the grantee. RETRAXIT. Lat. In practice. An open and voluntary renunciation by a plain tiff of his suit in court, made when the trial is called on, by which he forever loses hi» action, or is barred from commencing an other action for the same cause. 3 Bl. Comm. 296; 2 Archb. Pr. K. B. 250. A retraxit is the open, public, and volun tary renunciation by the plaintiff, in open court, of his suit or cause of action, and if this is done by the plaintiff, and a judgment entered thereon by the defendant, the plain tiff's right of action is forever gone. Code Ga. 1882, § 3445. "RETREAT TO THE WALL." In the law relating to homicide in self-defense, this phrase means that the party must avail himself of any apparent and reasonable ave nues of escape by which his danger might be averted, and the necessity of slaying his as sailant avoided. 57 Cal. 120. RETRIBUTION. This word is some times used in law, though not commonly in modern times, as the equivalent of "recom pense," or a payment or compensation for services, property, use of an estate, or other value received. RETRO. Lat. Back; backward; behind. Retrofeodum, a rerefief, or arriere fief. Spel man. RETROACTIVE has the same mean ing as "retrospective," (q. v.) RETROCESSION. In the civil law. When the assignee of heritable rights con veys his rights back to thecedent, it is called a "retrocession." Ersk. Inst. 3, 5, 1. RETROSPECTIVE. Looking back; con templating what is past. RETROSPECTIVE LAW. A law which looks backward or contemplates the past; one which is made to affect acts or facts trans pa ing, or rights accruing, before it came

which the iudorser holds the instrument with all his remedies intact. But it is some times used of an acceptor, by whom, when a bill is taken up or retired at maturity, it is in effect paid, and all the remedies on it extin guished. Byles, Bills, 215. RETONSOR. L. Lat. In old English law. A clipper of money. Fleta, lib. 1, c. 20, § 122. RETORNA BEEVIUM. The return of writs. The indorsement by a sheriff or other officer of his doings upon a writ. RETORNO HABENDO. A writ that lies for the distrainor of goods (when, on re plevin brought, he has proved his distress to be a lawful one) against him who was so dis trained, to have them returned to him ac cording to law, together with damages and costs. Brown. RETORSION. In international law. A species of retaliation, which takes place where a government, whose citizens are sub jected to severe and stringent regulation or harsh treatment by a foreign government, employs measures of equal severity and harshness upon the subjects of the latter gov ernment found within its dominions. See Vattel, lib. 2, c. 18, § 341. RETOUR. In Scotch law. To return a writ to the office in chancery from which it issued. R E T O U R OP SERVICE. In Scotch law. A certified copy of a verdict estab lishing the legal character of a party as heir to a decedent. RETOUR SANS FRAIS. In French law. A formula put upon a bill of exchange to signify that the drawer waives protest, and will not be responsible for costs arising there on. Arg. Fr. Merc. Law, 573. RETOUR SANS PROTET. Fr. Re turn without protest. A request or direc tion by a drawer of a bill of exchange that, should the bill be dishonored by the drawee, it may be returned without protest. RETRACT. To take back. To retract an offer is to withdraw it before acceptance, which the offerer may always do. RETRACTATION, in probate practice, is a withdrawal of a renunciation, (q. v.) RETRACTO O TANTEO. In Spanish law. The right of revoking a contract of sale; the right of redemption of a thing sold. White, New Recop. b. 2, tit. 13, c. 2, § 4.

Archive CD Books USA