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Webster 1913 Edition


Champerty

Cham′per-ty

,
Noun.
[F.
champart
field rent, L.
campipars
;
champ
(L.
campus
) field +
part
(L.
pars
) share.]
1.
Partnership in power; equal share of authority.
[Obs.]
Beauté ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness,
Ne may with Venus holde
champartye
.
Chaucer.
2.
(Law)
The prosecution or defense of a suit, whether by furnishing money or personal services, by one who has no legitimate concern therein, in consideration of an agreement that he shall receive, in the event of success, a share of the matter in suit; maintenance with the addition of an agreement to divide the thing in suit. See
Maintenance
.
☞ By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been forbidden and punishable.

Webster 1828 Edition


Champerty

CHAMPERTY

,
Noun.
A species of maintenance, being a bargain with a plaintiff or defendant, to divide the land or other matter in suit, between them, if they prevail; whereupon the champertor is to carry on the partys suit at his own expense. The purchase of a suit, or of the right of suing.

Definition 2024


champerty

champerty

English

Noun

champerty (plural champerties)

  1. (law) investing money into an individual’s law suit.

Related terms

See also

References

  1. champerty” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).