Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

375

DISFRANCHISEMENT

DISPARAGATIO

DISFRANCHISEMENT. The act of disfranchising. The act of depriving a mem ber of a corporation of his right as such, by expulsion. 1 Bouv. Inst. no. 192. It differs from amotion, (q. v.) which is applicable to the removal of an officer from office, leaving him his rights as a member. Willcock, Mun. Corp. no. 708; Ang. & A. Corp. 237. DISGAVEL. In English law. To de prive lands of that principal quality of gavel kind tenure by which they descend equally among all the sons of the tenant. 2 Wood. Lect. 76; 2 Bl. Comm. 85. DISGRACE. Ignominy; shame; dishon or. No witness is required to disgrace him self. 13 How. State Tr. 17, 334. DISGRADING. In old English law. The depriving of an order or dignity. DISGUISE. A counterfeit habit; a dress Intended to conceal the person who wears it. Webster. Anything worn upon the person with the intention of so altering the wearer's appear ance that he shall not be recognized by those familiar with him, or that he shall be taken for another person. A person lying in ambush, or concealed behind bushes, is not in "disguise, "within the meaning: of a statute declaring the county liable in damages to the next of kin of any one murdered by persons in disguise. 46 Ala. 118,142. DISHERISON. Disinheritance; depriv ing one of an inheritance. Obsolete. DISHONOR. In mercantile law and usage. To refuse or decline to accept a bill of exchange, or to refuse or neglect to pay a bill or note at maturity. A negotiable instrument is dishonored when it is either not paid or not accepted, ac cording to its tenor, on presentment for that purpose, or without presentment, where that is excused. Civil Code Cal. § 3141. DISINCARCERATE. To set at liberty, to free from prison. DISINHERISON. In the civil law. The act of depriving a forced heir of the inherit ance which the law gives him. DISINHERITANCE. The act by which the owner of an estate deprives a person of the right to inherit the same, who would otherwise be his heir. DISINTERESTED. Not concerned, in respect to possible gain or loss, in the result of the pending proceeding.

DISINTERESTED WITNESS. One who has no interest in the cause or matter in issue, and who is lawfully competent to tes tify. DISJUNCTIM. Lat. In the civil law. Separately; severally. The opposite of con junctim, (g. v.) Inst. 2, 20, 8. DISJUNCTIVE ALLEGATION. A statement in a pleading or indictment which expresses or charges a thing alternatively, with the conjunction "or;" for instance, an averment that defendant "muidered, or caused to be murdered," etc., would be of this character. DISJUNCTIVE TERM. One which is placed between two contraries, by the affirm ing of one of which the other is taken away; it is usually expressed by the word "or." DISMES. Tenths; tithes, (q. t>.) The original form of "dime," the name of the American coin. DISMISS. To send away; to discharge; to cause to be removed. To dismiss an ac tion or suit is to send it out of court without any further consideiation or hearing. DISMORTGAGE. To redeem from mortgage. DISORDER. Turbulent or riotous be havior; immoral or indecent conduct. The breach of the public decorum and morality. DISORDERLY HOUSE. In criminal law. A house the inmates of which behave so badly as to become a nuisance to the neigh borhood. It has a wide meaning, and in cludes bawdy houses, common gaming houses, and places of a like character. 1 Bish. Crim. Law, § 1106; 2 Cranch, C. C. 675. DISORDERLY PERSONS. Such as are dangerous or hurtful to the public peace and welfare by reason of their misconduct or vicious habits, and are therefore amenable to police regulation. The phrase is chiefly used in statutes, and the scope of the term de pends on local regulations. See 4 Bl. Comm. 169. DISFARAGARE. In old English law. To bring together those that are unequal, {dispares conferre;) to connect in an indec orous and unworthy manner; to connect in marriage those that are unequal in blood and parentage. DISPARAGATIO. In old English law. Disparagement. Hceredes maritentur absque

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