Accessary after the fact

Accessary after the fact
Fact Fact (f[a^]kt), n. [L. factum, fr. facere to make or do. Cf. {Feat}, {Affair}, {Benefit}, {Defect}, {Fashion}, and {-fy}.] 1. A doing, making, or preparing. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

A project for the fact and vending Of a new kind of fucus, paint for ladies. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

2. An effect produced or achieved; anything done or that comes to pass; an act; an event; a circumstance. [1913 Webster]

What might instigate him to this devilish fact, I am not able to conjecture. --Evelyn. [1913 Webster]

He who most excels in fact of arms. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Reality; actuality; truth; as, he, in fact, excelled all the rest; the fact is, he was beaten. [1913 Webster]

4. The assertion or statement of a thing done or existing; sometimes, even when false, improperly put, by a transfer of meaning, for the thing done, or supposed to be done; a thing supposed or asserted to be done; as, history abounds with false facts. [1913 Webster]

I do not grant the fact. --De Foe. [1913 Webster]

This reasoning is founded upon a fact which is not true. --Roger Long. [1913 Webster]

Note: The term fact has in jurisprudence peculiar uses in contrast with law; as, attorney at law, and attorney in fact; issue in law, and issue in fact. There is also a grand distinction between law and fact with reference to the province of the judge and that of the jury, the latter generally determining the fact, the former the law. --Burrill --Bouvier. [1913 Webster]

{Accessary before the fact}, or {Accessary after the fact}. See under {Accessary}.

{Matter of fact}, an actual occurrence; a verity; used adjectively: of or pertaining to facts; prosaic; unimaginative; as, a matter-of-fact narration.

Syn: Act; deed; performance; event; incident; occurrence; circumstance. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Accessary after the fact — Accessary Ac*ces sa*ry (277), n.; pl. {Accessaries}. [Cf. {Accessory} and LL. accessarius.] (Law) One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense. [1913 Webster] {Accessary before the fact}… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Accessary before the fact — Accessary Ac*ces sa*ry (277), n.; pl. {Accessaries}. [Cf. {Accessory} and LL. accessarius.] (Law) One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense. [1913 Webster] {Accessary before the fact}… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Accessary before the fact — Fact Fact (f[a^]kt), n. [L. factum, fr. facere to make or do. Cf. {Feat}, {Affair}, {Benefit}, {Defect}, {Fashion}, and { fy}.] 1. A doing, making, or preparing. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] A project for the fact and vending Of a new kind of fucus,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • accessary after the fact — (Law) a person who after an offense assists or shelters the transgressor; one not present at the action of the offense …   English contemporary dictionary

  • accessory after the fact — noun A person who assists or protects someone wanted by the police in connection with a crime. ...some of that atrocious wickedness in Jones, ... might perhaps be derived from the encouragement he had received from this fellow, who ... had been… …   Wiktionary

  • accessory after the fact — noun a person who gives assistance or comfort to someone known to be a felon or known to be sought in connection with the commission of a felony • Hypernyms: ↑accessory, ↑accessary * * * noun see accessory I …   Useful english dictionary

  • accessory before the fact — noun a person who procures or advises or commands the commission of a felony but who is not present at its perpetration • Hypernyms: ↑accessory, ↑accessary * * * noun see accessory I * * * accessory before (or after) the fact Law …   Useful english dictionary

  • Accessary — Ac*ces sa*ry (277), n.; pl. {Accessaries}. [Cf. {Accessory} and LL. accessarius.] (Law) One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense. [1913 Webster] {Accessary before the fact} (Law), one… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fact — (f[a^]kt), n. [L. factum, fr. facere to make or do. Cf. {Feat}, {Affair}, {Benefit}, {Defect}, {Fashion}, and { fy}.] 1. A doing, making, or preparing. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] A project for the fact and vending Of a new kind of fucus, paint for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • accessary — accessary, accessory These two words come by different routes from the same Latin source of our word accede. In AmE, accessory is dominant both as a noun and as an adjective, and it has fast become so now in BrE, although accessary is still used… …   Modern English usage

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”