OFFENCE, crimes. The doing that which a penal law forbids to be done, or omitting to do what it commands; in this sense it is nearly synonymous with c...
OCCUPANT or OCCUPIER. One who has the actual use or possession of a thing.2. He derives his title of occupancy either by taking possession of a thing ...
OCCUPANCY. The taking possession of those things corporeal which are without an owner, with an intention of appropriating them to one's own use. P...
OBREPTION, civil law. Surprise. Dig. 3,5,8,1. Vide Surprise.OBSCENITY, crim. law. Such indecency as is calculated to promote the violation of the law,...
OBLIGATION OF CONTRACTS. By this expression, which is used in the consti- tution of the United States, is meant a legal and not merely a moral duty. 4...
OBEDIENCE. The performance of a command.2. Officers who obey the command of their superiors, having jurisdiction of the subject-matter, are not respon...
OATH. A declaration made according to law, before a competent tribunal or officer, to tell the truth; or it is the act of one who, when lawfully requi...
NUNC PRO TUNC, practice. This phrase, which signifies now for then, is used to express that a thing is done at one time which ought to have been perfo...
NULIUS FILIUS. The son of no one; a bastard.2. A bastard is considered nullius filius as far as regards his right inherit. But the rule of nullius fil...
NULIA BONA. The retum made to a writ of fieri facias, by the sheriff, when he has not found any goods of the defendant on which he could levy. 3 Bouv....