Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

IN TEEPEETATION

INTERRUPTION

639

that what is inconvenient and absurd may be avoided. 4 Inst. 828. INTERPRETATION. The discovery and representation of the true meaning of any signs used to convey ideas. Lieb. Herm. " Construction "is a term of wider scope than u interpretation;" for, while the latter is concerned only with ascertaining the sense and meaning of the subject-matter, the former may also be direct ed to explaining the legal effects and consequences of the instrument in question. Hence interpreta tion precedes construction, but stops at the writ ten text. Close interpretation (interpretatio restric ta) is adopted if just reasons, connected with the formation and character of the text, in duce us to take the words in their narrowest meaning. This species of interpretation has generally been called "literal," but the term is inadmissible. Lieb. Herm. 54. Extensive interpretation (interpretatio ex tensiva, called, also., "liberal interpretation") adopts a more comprehensive signification of the word. Id. 58. Extravagant interpretation {interpretatio excedens) is that which substitutes a mean ing evidently beyond the true one. It is therefore not genuine interpretation. Id. 59. Free or unrestricted interpretation (inter pretatio soluta) proceeds simply on the gen eral principles of interpretation in good faith, not bound by any specific or superior princi ple. Id. 59. Limited or restricted interpretation (in terpretatio limitata) is when we are influ enced by other principles than the strictly hermeneutic ones. Id. 60. Predestined interpi etation {interpretatio predestinata) takes place if the interpreter, laboring under a strong bias of mind, makes the text subservient to his preconceived views or desires. This includes artful interpreta tion, (interpretatio vafer,) by which the in terpreter seeks to give a meaning to the text other than the one he knows to have been in tended. Id. 60. It is said to be either "legal," which rests on the same authority as the law itself, or "doctrinal," which r^sts upon its intrinsic reasonableness. Legal interpretation may De either "authentic," when it is expressly provided by the legislator, or "usual," when it is derived from unwritten practice. Doc trinal interpretation may turn on the mean ing of words and sentences, when it is called "grammatical," or on the intention of the legislator, when it is described as "logical." When logical interpretation stretches the words of a statute to cover its obvious mean

ing, it is called "extensive;" when, on the other hand, it avoids giving full meaning to the words, in order not to go beyond the in tention of the legislator, it is called "restrict ive." Holl. Jur. 344. INTERPRETATION CLAUSE. A section of a statute which defines the mean ing of certain words occurring frequently in the other sections. INTERPRETER. A person sworn at a trial to interpret the evidence of a foreigner or a deaf and dumb person to the court. INTERREGNUM. An interval between reigns. The period which elapses between the death of a sovereign and the election of another. The vacancy which occurs when there is no government. INTERROGATOIRE. In French law. An act which contains the interrogatories made by the judge to the person accused, on the facts which are the object of the accusa tion, and the answers of the accused. Poth. Proc. Crim. c. 4, art. 2, § 1. INTERROGATORIES. A set or series of written questions drawn up for the purpose of being propounded to a party in equity, a garnishee, or a witness whose testimony is taken on deposition; a series of formal writ ten questions used in the judicial examina tion of a party or a witness. In taking evi dence on depositions, the interrogatories are usually prepared and settled by counsel, and reduced to writing in advance of the exami nation. Interrogatories are either direct or cross, the former being those which are put on be half of the party calling a witness; the latter are those which are interposed by the adverse party. INTERRUPTIO. Lat. Interruption. A term used both in the civil and common law of prescription. Calvin. Interruptio multiplex non tollit prse scriptionem semel obtentam. 2 Inst. 654. Frequent interruption does not take away a prescription once secured. INTERRUPTION. The occurrence of some act or fact, during the period of pre scription, which is sufficient to arrest the run ning of the statute of limitations. It is said to be either "natural" or "civil," the former being caused by the act of the party; the lat ter by the legal effect or operation of some fact or circumstance.

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