Law Dictionary Definitions

ancient readings.Hist. Lectures on ancient English statutes, formerly having substantial legal authority. [Blacks Law 8th]

ancient law.The law of antiquity, considered esp. either from an anthropological standpoint or from the stand-point of tracing precursors to modern law. “Ancient law uniformly refuses to dispense with a single gesture, however grotesque; with a single  syllable,  however  its  meaning  may  have  been  forgotten;  with  a  single  witness,  however superfluous  may  be  his  testimony. …

ancient house.See HOUSE. [Blacks Law 8th]

ancient fact.See FACT. [Blacks Law 8th]

ancient document.See DOCUMENT. [Blacks Law 8th]

ancient demesne.See DEMESNE. [Blacks Law 8th]

ancient,adj. Evidence. Having existed for a long time without interruption, usu. at least 20 to A 30  years <ancient  deed>  <ancient  map>.  •  Ancient items  are  usu.  presumed  to  be  valid  even  if proof of validity cannot be made.Fed. R. Evid. 901(b)(8). [Cases: Evidence    372. C.J.S. Evidence §§ 1010–1012, 1014–1015.] ancient,n. A senior member of…

anchorage.Maritime law. 1. An area where ships anchor. 2. A duty paid by shipowners for the use of a port; a toll for anchoring. [Cases: Shipping    7. C.J.S. Shipping §§ 18–20.] [Blacks Law 8th]

ancestry. A line of descent; lineage. [Blacks Law 8th]

ancestral estate.See ESTATE(1). [Blacks Law 8th]