Statute of limitations

Statute of limitations
Statute Stat"ute (-[-u]t), n. [F. statut, LL. statutum, from L. statutus, p. p. of statuere to set, station, ordain, fr. status position, station, fr. stare, statum, to stand. See {Stand}, and cf. {Constitute}, {Destitute}.] 1. An act of the legislature of a state or country, declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something; a positive law; the written will of the legislature expressed with all the requisite forms of legislation; -- used in distinction from {common law}. See {Common law}, under {Common}, a. --Bouvier. [1913 Webster]

Note: Statute is commonly applied to the acts of a legislative body consisting of representatives. In monarchies, the laws of the sovereign are called edicts, decrees, ordinances, rescripts, etc. In works on international law and in the Roman law, the term is used as embracing all laws imposed by competent authority. Statutes in this sense are divided into statutes real, statutes personal, and statutes mixed; statutes real applying to immovables; statutes personal to movables; and statutes mixed to both classes of property. [1913 Webster]

2. An act of a corporation or of its founder, intended as a permanent rule or law; as, the statutes of a university. [1913 Webster]

3. An assemblage of farming servants (held possibly by statute) for the purpose of being hired; -- called also {statute fair}. [Eng.] Cf. 3d {Mop}, 2. --Halliwell. [1913 Webster]

{Statute book}, a record of laws or legislative acts. --Blackstone.

{Statute cap}, a kind of woolen cap; -- so called because enjoined to be worn by a statute, dated in 1571, in behalf of the trade of cappers. [Obs.] --Halliwell.

{Statute fair}. See {Statute}, n., 3, above.

{Statute labor}, a definite amount of labor required for the public service in making roads, bridges, etc., as in certain English colonies.

{Statute merchant} (Eng. Law), a bond of record pursuant to the stat. 13 Edw. I., acknowledged in form prescribed, on which, if not paid at the day, an execution might be awarded against the body, lands, and goods of the debtor, and the obligee might hold the lands until out of the rents and profits of them the debt was satisfied; -- called also a {pocket judgment}. It is now fallen into disuse. --Tomlins. --Bouvier.

{Statute mile}. See under {Mile}.

{Statute of limitations} (Law), a statute assigning a certain time, after which rights can not be enforced by action.

{Statute staple}, a bond of record acknowledged before the mayor of the staple, by virtue of which the creditor may, on nonpayment, forthwith have execution against the body, lands, and goods of the debtor, as in the statute merchant. It is now disused. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Act; regulation; edict; decree. See {Law}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • statute of limitations — n. the statute of limitations takes effect, goes into effect (or: colloq. and illogically statute of limitations the statute of limitations expires, runs out) * * * goes into effect (or: colloq. and illogically statute of limitations the statute… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • statute of limitations — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms statute of limitations : singular statute of limitations plural statutes of limitations a law that sets a period of time during which legal action can be taken …   English dictionary

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