DISAFFIRMANCE. The act by which a person who has entered into a voidable contract; as, for example, an infant, does disagree to such contract, and declares he will not abide¹ by it.

2. Disaffirmance is express or implied. The former, when the declaration is made in terms that the party will not abide by the contract. The latter, when he does an act which plainly manifests his determination not to abide by it; as, where an infant made a deed for his land, and, on coming of age, be made a deed for the same land to another. 2 Dev. & Bat. 320; 10 Pet. 58; 13 Mass. 371, 375.

TO DISAVOW. To deny the authority by which an agent pretends to have acted as when he has exceeded the bounds of his authority.

2. It is the duty of the principal to fulfil the contracts which have been entered into by his authorized² agent; and when an agent has exceeded his authority, he ought promptly³ to disavow such act, so that the other party may have his remedy against the agent. See Agent; Principal.

DISBURSEMENT⁴. Literally⁵, to take money out of a purse. Figuratively, to pay out money; to expend⁶ money; and some times it signifies to advance money.

2. A master of a ship makes dishursements, whether with his own money or that of the owner, when he defrays expenses for the ship.

3. An executor, guardian⁷, trustee, or other accountant, is said to have made dishursements when he expended⁸ money on account of the estate which he holds. These, when properly made, are always allowed in the settlement of the accounts.

DISCHARGE, practice. The act by which a person in confinement⁹, under some legal process, or held on an accusation¹⁰ of some crime or misdemeauor, is set at liberty; the writing containing the order for his being so set at liberty, is also called a discharge.

2. The discharge of a defendant¹¹, in prison under a ca. sa., when made by the plaintiff, has the operation of satisfying the debt, the plaintiff having no other remedy. 4 T. R. 526. But when the discharge is in consequence of the insolvent¹² laws, or the defendant dies in prison, the debt is not satisfied. In the first place the plaintiff has a remedy against the property of the defendant, acquired after his discharge, and, in the last case, against the executors or administrators¹³ of the debtor¹⁴. Bac. Ab. Execution, D; Bingh. on Execution, 266.