PROPRIETARY1. In its strict sense, this word signifies one who is master of his actions, and who has the free disposition2 of his property. During the colonial government of Pennsylvania, William Penn was called the proprietary.
2. The domain3 which William Penn and his family had in the state, was, during the Revolutionary war, divested4 by the act of June 28, 1779, from that family and vested in the commonwealth5 for the sum which the latter paid to them of one hundred and thirty thousand pounds sterling6.
PROPRIETATE PROBANDA. The name of a writ7. See De proprietate probanda.
PROPRIETOR8. The owner. (q. v.)
PROPRIO VIGORE. By its own force or vigor9. This expression is frequently used in construction. A phrase is said to have a certain meaning proprio vigore.
PROPTER AFFECTUM. For or on account of some affection or prejudice. A juryman may be challenged propter affectum; as, because he is related to the party has eaten at his expense, and the like. See Challenge, practice.
PROPTER AFFECTUM. On account or for some defect. This phrase is frequently used in relation to challenges. A juryman may be challenged propter defectum; as, that he is a minor10, an alien, and the like. See Challenge, practice.
PROPTER DELICTUM. For or on account of crime. A juror may be challenged propter delictum, when he has been convicted of an infamous11 crime. See Challenge, practice.
PROROGATED JURISDICTION12, Scotch13 law. That jurisdiction, which, by the consent of the parties, is conferred upon a judge, who, without such consent, would be incompetent14. Ersk. Prin. B. 1, t. 2, n. 15.
2. At common law, when a party is entitled to some privilege or exemption15 from jurisdiction, he may waive16 it, and then the jurisdiction is complete; but the consent cannot give jurisdiction. PROROGATION17. To put off to another time. It is generally applied18 to the English parliament, and means the continuance of it from one day to another; it differs from adjournment19, which is a continuance of it from one day to another in the same session. 1 Bl. Com. 186.
2. In the civil law, prorogation signifies the time given to do a thing beyond the term prefixed. Dig. 2, 14, 27, 1. See Prolongation.