English vocabulary Take the Law into Your Hands!

affidavit

/ˌæfəˈdeɪvət/

noun

a written statement affirmed by oath or pledge that can be used as evidence in court

Examples

to acquit

/əˈkwɪt/

verb

officially deciding and declaring in a law court that someone is not guilty of a crime

Examples

annulment

/ˈænəɫmənt/

noun

(law) a formal termination (of a relationship or a judicial proceeding etc)

Examples

binding

/ˈbaɪndɪŋ/

adjective

legally impossible to avoid and must be obeyed

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Examples

I'll undo the binding.

The screw on her binding is undone.

conveyance

/kənˈveɪəns/

noun

document effecting a property transfer

Examples

to countersign

/kˈaʊntɚsˌaɪn/

verb

add one's signature to after another's to attest authenticity

Examples

to cuff

/ˈkəf/

verb

confine or restrain with or as if with manacles or handcuffs

Examples

debenture

/dəˈbɛntʃɝ/

noun

a certificate or voucher acknowledging a debt

Examples

decree

/dɪˈkɹi/

noun

an official authoritative decision or judgment, especially one made by a government or the ruler of a country

Examples

to draw up

/dɹˈɔː ˈʌp/

verb

**** To compose or prepare a document

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Examples

Ferris revised the proposal three times and drew up many more drafts of engineering plans.

to enforce

/ɛnˈfɔɹs/

verb

to ensure that a law or rule is followed

Examples

impeachment

/ˌɪmˈpitʃmənt/

noun

a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

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Examples

An impeachment investigation is underway and members of Cuomo's own party called for his resignation.

indictment

/ˌɪnˈdaɪtmənt/

noun

a formal accusation of a crime

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Examples

Was it an early indictment of market-driven economies?

to infringe

/ˌɪnˈfɹɪndʒ/

verb

to go against a rule, law, term of agreement, etc.

Examples

tribunal

/tɹəbˈjunəɫ/

noun

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

Examples

inquest

/ˈɪnˌkwɛst/

noun

an inquiry into the cause of an unexpected death

Examples

intestacy

/ɪntˈɛstəsi/

noun

the situation of being or dying without a legally valid will

Examples

judiciary

/dʒuˈdɪʃiˌɛɹi/

noun

the part of a country's government that administers the legal system, including all its judges

Examples

legislation

/ˌɫɛdʒəˈsɫeɪʃən/

noun

a law or a set of laws passed by a legislative body, such as a parliament

Examples

legitimate

/ɫəˈdʒɪtəmət/

adjective

in compliance with the law or regulations

Examples

legislature

/ˈɫɛdʒəˌsɫeɪtʃɝ/

noun

persons who make or amend or repeal laws

Examples

to litigate

/ˈɫɪtɪˌɡeɪt/

verb

institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against

Examples

magistrate

/ˈmædʒəˌstɹeɪt/, /ˈmædʒɪˌstɹeɪt/

noun

a person who acts as a judge in a law court and deals with minor offenses

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Examples

That is quite correct,' the magistrate answered. '

Yes, certainly,' the magistrate answered.

memorandum

/ˌmɛmɝˈændəm/

noun

*** a document recording the terms of a contract or other legal details.

Examples

to overturn

/ˈoʊvɝˌtɝn/

verb

to reverse, abolish, or invalidate something, especially a legal decision

Examples

to pardon

/ˈpɑɹdən/

verb

to discharge a criminal from the legal consequences of a conviction or violation

Examples

parole

/pɝˈoʊɫ/

noun

(law) permission for a prisoner to leave prison before the end of their imprisonment sentence, on the condition of good conduct

Examples

plaintiff

/ˈpɫeɪnəf/, /ˈpɫeɪntəf/

noun

a person who brings a lawsuit against someone else in a court

Examples

to plead

/ˈpɫid/

verb

to state in a court of law, in front of the judge and the jury, whether someone is guilty or not guilty of a crime

Examples

proceedings

/pɹəˈsidɪŋz/, /pɹoʊˈsidɪŋz/

noun

actions taken in a court of law in order to settle an argument

Examples

provision

/pɹəˈvɪʒən/

noun

a stipulated condition

Examples

prosecution

/ˌpɹɑsəkˈjuʃən/

noun

the process of bringing someone to court in an attempt to prove their guilt

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waiver

/ˈweɪvɝ/

noun

an official statement according to which one gives up their legal right or claim

Examples

to void

/ˈvɔɪd/

verb

to announce that something is no longer legally valid or binding

Examples

testimony

/ˈtɛstəˌmoʊni/

noun

a formal statement saying something is true, particularly made by a witness in court

Examples

statute

/ˈstætʃut/

noun

an officially written and established law

Examples

to testify

/ˈtɛstəˌfaɪ/

verb

to make a statement as a witness in court saying something is true

Examples

to abide by

/ɐbˈaɪd bˈaɪ/

verb

to accept a rule, decision, or recommendation without objection

Examples

to remand

/ɹɪˈmænd/

verb

refer (a matter or legal case) to another committee or authority or court for decision

Examples

to uphold

/əpˈhoʊɫd/

verb

(particularly of a law court) to state that a previous decision is correct