outlawry

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • n outlawry illegality as a consequence of unlawful acts; defiance of the law
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • Outlawry Defiance of the law; habitual criminality.
    • Outlawry The act of outlawing; the putting a man out of the protection of law, or the process by which a man (as an absconding criminal) is deprived of that protection.
    • Outlawry The state of being an outlaw.
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • n outlawry The putting of a person out of the protection of law by legal means; also, the process by which one is deprived of that protection, or the condition of one so deprived: a punishment formerly imposed on one who, when called into court, contemptuously refused to appear, or evaded justice by disappearing. In the earliest times outlawry seems to have implied exclusion from all the protections and remedies with which the law guarded lawful men, but by successive ameliorations it was reduced in effect to the rule that it incapacitated a person for prosecuting actions for his own benefit, though he might still defend himself. In capital cases, as treason or felony, failure to appear was a sufficient evidence of guilt, and process of outlawry thereon entailed forfeiture of his personal estate. Fugitation is a term of similar meaning in Scots law.
    • n outlawry The condition of a debt or other cause of action when by reason of lapse of time it can no longer sustain an action. Such a debt still subsists for some other purposes — such, for instance, as enabling the creditor to retain a pledge if he holds a security.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • n Outlawry the act of putting a man out of the protection of the law: state of being an outlaw
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Etymology

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
A.S. útlaga; cf. Ice. útlági—út, out, lög, law.

Usage

In literature:

Leclerc will revoke our outlawry.
"The Hour and the Man" by Harriet Martineau
Under such conditions it was no wonder that outlawry began to show its head in bold and well-organized forms.
"The Story of the Outlaw" by Emerson Hough
Provision was made for proceeding to outlawry in certain cases.
"The Rise of Canada, from Barbarism to Wealth and Civilisation" by Charles Roger
On April 17 Wilkes surrendered to his outlawry.
"The Political History of England - Vol. X." by William Hunt
Its expression was softened; and this man of outlawry and blood became gentle.
"Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 2 (of 2)" by John Roby
Habits of civilization had given way perforce to habits of outlawry.
"Frank of Freedom Hill" by Samuel A. Derieux
John Knox, as you perhaps know, stands under the ban of outlawry for conscience sake.
"Ringan Gilhaize" by John Galt
Outlawry for profit, as well as production for profit, are soon to be things of the past.
"Violence and the Labor Movement" by Robert Hunter
In the Outlawries of 1691, he is described on one as "of the city of Dublin," on another, as "of Pennyburn Mill, co.
"Notes and Queries, Number 235, April 29, 1854" by Various
It was a Paradise where no writ had ever wandered, nor the word "outlawry" had ever been uttered.
"Davenport Dunn, Volume 2 (of 2) A Man Of Our Day" by Charles James Lever
Imagination dwells on the outlawry of a lady who had won the admiration of Washington.
"History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia" by Charles Campbell
In such college outlawry he loses no sense of self-respect, and in no degree the respect of his fellow students.
"Letters from a Father to His Son Entering College" by Charles Franklin Thwing
But I set my face in the direction of the Ngome forests, where my outlawry had been spent.
"The Induna's Wife" by Bertram Mitford
His career of outlawry commenced by his making small attacks upon small English posts.
"A Short History of England, Ireland and Scotland" by Mary Platt Parmele
Excommunication and outlawry are now held in derision.
"Pictures of German Life in the XVIIIth and XIXth Centuries, Vol. I." by Gustav Freytag
Here ready-made was the story of an outlaw waging a successful war on outlawry.
"When 'Bear Cat' Went Dry" by Charles Neville Buck
Forfeiture consequent on outlawry was exempted from the provisions of the act.
"Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 8" by Various
His deeds of crime and outlawry are unparalleled.
"The Boy Spy" by Joseph Kerby
This was surely the cream of outlawry.
"Just William" by Richmal Crompton
Reising, however, assumed an air of being unconscious of this outlawry which could be read on every countenance.
"Withered Leaves. Vol. I. (of III)" by Rudolf von Gottschall
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In poetry:

O, too long I walked
In that thrice-sifted air that princes breathe,
Nor felt the heaven-wide jostling of the winds
And all the ancient outlawry of earth!
Now let me breathe and see.
"Vesalius In Zante" by Edith Wharton

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