英文法律词典 D-72

DISINHERITANCE. The act by which a person deprives his heir of an inheritance, who, without such act, would inherit.

2. By the common law, any one may give his estate to a stranger, and thereby¹ disinherit his heir apparent. Coop. Justin. 495. 7 East, Rep. 106.

DISINTERESTED² WITNESS. One who has no interest in the cause or matter in is-sue, and who is lawfully⁴ competent to testify.

2. In North Carolina and Tennessee, wills to pass lands must be attested⁵ by disinterested witnesses. See Attesting⁶ Witness; Competent Witness; Credible⁷ Witness; Respectable Witness, and Witness.

DISJUNCTIVE TERM. One which is placed between two contraries, by the affirming of one of which, the other is taken away: it is usually expressed by the word or. Vide 3 Ves. 450; 7 Ves. 454; 2 Rop. Leg. 290.; 1 P. Wms. 433; 2 Cox, Rep. 213; 2 P. Wms. 283 2 Atk. 643; 6 Ves. 341; 2 Ves. sr. 67; 2 Str. 1175; Cro. Eliz. 525; Pollexf. 645; 1 Bing. 500; 3 T. R. 470; 1 Ves. sr. 409; 3 Atk. 83, 85; Ayl. Pand. 56; 2 Miles, Rep. 49.

2. In the civil law, when a legacy⁸ is given to Caius or Titius, the word or is considered and, and both Caius and Titius are entitled to the legacy in equal parts. 6 Toull. n. 704. See Copulative term; Construction, subdivision, And; Or.. Also, Bac. Ab. Conditions, P 5.

DISMES. Another name for tithes⁹. Dime¹⁰, (q. v.) a piece of federal money, is sometimes improperly¹¹ written disme.

TO DISMISS A CAUSE, practice. A term used in courts of chancery for removing a cause out of court without any further hearing.

DISOBEDIENCE. The want of submission¹² to the orders of a superior.

2. In the army, disobedience is a misdemeanor.

3. For disobedience to parents, children may be punished; and apprentices¹³ may be imprisoned¹⁴ for disobedience to the lawful³ commands of their master. Vide Correction.

DISORDERLY HOUSE, crim. law. A house, the inmates¹⁵ of which believe so badly as to become a nuisance to the neighborhood.

2. The keeper of such house may be indicted¹⁶ for keeping a public nuisance. Hardr. 344; Hawk¹⁷. b. 1, c. 78, s. 1 and 2 Bac. Ab. Inns, A; 1 Russ. on Cr. 298; 1 Wheel. C. C. 290; 1 Serg. & Rawle, 342; 2 Serg. & Rawle, 298; Bac. Ab. Nuisances, A; 4 Chit. BI.. Com. 167, 8, note. The hushand must be joined with the wife in an indictment¹⁸ to suppress a disorderly house. Justice's Case, Law 16; 1 Shaw, 146. Vide Bawdy¹⁹ house; Ill fame.