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diligence. 1. A continual effort to accomplish something. 2. Care; caution; the attention and care  required  from  a  person  in  a  given  situation.  •  The  Roman-law  equivalent is  diligentia.  See “Care, or the absence of negligentia, is diligentia. The use of the word diligence in this sense is obsolete in modern English, though it is…

dilecto et fideli (di-lek-toh et fi-dee-lI). [Law Latin] To his beloved and faithful. • This phrase was used in various writs. — Abbr. di. et fi. [Blacks Law 8th]

dilatory plea.See PLEA(3).[Blacks Law 8th]

dilatory motion.See MOTION(2). [Blacks Law 8th]

dilatory fiduciary.See FIDUCIARY. [Blacks Law 8th]

dilatory exception.See EXCEPTION(1). [Blacks Law 8th]

dilatory defense.See DEFENSE(1). [Blacks Law 8th]

dilatory (dil-<<schwa>>-tor-ee), adj. Tending to cause  delay <the  judge’s  opinion criticized the lawyer’s persistent dilatory tactics>. [Blacks Law 8th]

dilapidations, action for (d<<schwa>>-lap-<<schwa>>-day-sh<<schwa>>nz).Hist. An action brought by a new incumbent of a benefice for damages rising from the disrepair of the houses or buildings on the benefice. • The incumbent — whether of a rectory, a vicarage, or a chapel — sued the executors or administrators of the  incumbent’s deceased  predecessor (who  was not…

dilapidation.  (often  pl.)  Damage  to  a  building  resulting  from  acts  of  either  commission  or omission. • A  dilapidation  may  give rise to liability if it constitutes an act of  waste, a breach  of contract, or a statutory violation. [Blacks Law 8th]