deodand Synonyms
No Synonyms and anytonyms found
deodand Meaning
deodand (n.)
A personal chattel which had caused the death of a person, and for that reason was given to God, that is, forfeited to the crown, to be applied to pious uses, and distributed in alms by the high almoner. Thus, if a cart ran over a man and killed him, it was forfeited as a deodand.
deodand Sentence Examples
- In medieval England, a horse that trampled a person to death could be declared a deodand.
- The legal concept of deodand was rooted in the belief that objects causing death should be punished.
- The court ruled that the faulty machinery, deemed a deodand, was responsible for the worker's accidental death.
- Deodands were often symbolic gestures, representing society's recognition of the tragedy and the need for accountability.
- A wagon that caused a fatal accident on the road might be declared a deodand in ancient legal systems.
- The concept of deodand fell out of use as legal systems evolved and became more focused on individual responsibility.
- Historically, the value of a deodand could vary depending on the circumstances of the death it caused.
- The idea of deodand reflected a belief in divine justice, where even inanimate objects could be held accountable for human death.
- Some legal scholars argue that the concept of deodand contributed to the development of modern liability laws.
- Despite its historical significance, the term deodand is rarely used in contemporary legal contexts.
FAQs About the word deodand
A personal chattel which had caused the death of a person, and for that reason was given to God, that is, forfeited to the crown, to be applied to pious uses, a
No synonyms found.
No antonyms found.
In medieval England, a horse that trampled a person to death could be declared a deodand.
The legal concept of deodand was rooted in the belief that objects causing death should be punished.
The court ruled that the faulty machinery, deemed a deodand, was responsible for the worker's accidental death.
Deodands were often symbolic gestures, representing society's recognition of the tragedy and the need for accountability.
