Law Dictionary Definitions

scold,n. Hist. A person who regularly breaks the peace by scolding people, increasing discord, and generally being a public nuisance to the neighborhood. • This behavior was formerly punishable in various ways, including having an iron bridle fitted to the person’s mouth. — Also termed common scold; objurgatrix. See BRANKS. [Cases: Criminal Law 45.25.] [Blacks…

scofflaw (skof-law). A person who treats the law with contempt; esp., one who avoids various laws that are not easily enforced <some scofflaws carry mannequins in their cars in order to drive in the carpool lane>. [Blacks Law 8th]

scintilla juris (sin-til-<<schwa>> joor-is). [Law Latin “a spark of right”] Hist. A fragment of law or right. • This refers to a figurative expression in the law of uses providing a trace of seisin rights to remain in the feoffees sufficient to allow contingent uses to be executed under the Statute of Uses. It was…

scite (sIt). [fr. Latin situs] Archaic. 1. A location; a site. 2. The site of a capital messuage. 3. A municipal ordinance. — Also termed site. [Blacks Law 8th]

scire fieri inquiry (sI-ree fI-<<schwa>>-rI), n.[Law Latin] Hist. A writ to ascertain the location of a testator’s property from an executor, when the sheriff returned nulla bona to a writ of execution fieri facias de bonis testatoris. See FIERI FACIAS. [Blacks Law 8th]

scire feci (sI-ree fee-sI). [Latin “I have caused to know”] Hist. The sheriff’s return to a writ of scire facias, indicating that notice was given to the parties against whom the writ was issued. [Blacks Law 8th]

scire facias (sI-ree fay-shee-<<schwa>>s). [Law Latin “you are to make known, show cause”] A writ requiring the person against whom it is issued to appear and show cause why some matter of record should not be annulled or vacated, or why a dormant judgment against that person should not be revived. — Abbr. sci. fa.[Cases:…

scintilla-of-evidence rule.A common-law doctrine holding that if even the slightest amount of relevant evidence exists on an issue, then a motion for summary judgment or for directed verdict cannot be granted and the issue must go to the jury. • Federal courts do not follow this rule, but some states apply it. — Also termed…

scintilla (sin-til-<<schwa>>). A spark or trace <the standard is that there must be more than a scintilla of evidence>. Pl. scintillas (sin-til-<<schwa>>z). [Cases: Evidence 597; Federal Civil Procedure 2146.C.J.S. Evidence §§ 1301, 1304, 1306, 1339.] [Blacks Law 8th]

SCIN. See self-canceling installment note under NOTE(1). [Blacks Law 8th]