Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
petty offense — A minor criminal offense, triable by a magistrate without a jury. People v Grogeran, 260 NY 138, 183 NE 273, 86 ALR 1266. In some jurisdictions, inclusive of misdemeanors, at least a misdemeanor not amounting to an indictable offense. 21 Am J2d… … Ballentine's law dictionary
petty offense — noun 1. : a minor offense for which one may be tried at common law without a jury or for which there is no constitutional right to trial by jury 2. : misdemeanor; especially : one that may not be the subject of an indictment … Useful english dictionary
petty — pet·ty / pe tē/ adj: relatively minor in degree a petty offense punishable by not more than six months in prison compare grand Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 … Law dictionary
offense — of·fense or of·fence /ə fens/ n 1: a violation of the law; esp: a criminal act nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy U.S. Constitution amend. V see also lesser included offense 2 … Law dictionary
offense — A felony or misdemeanor; a breach of the criminal laws; violation of law for which penalty is prescribed. The word offense, while sometimes used in various senses, generally implies a felony or a misdemeanor infringing public as distinguished… … Black's law dictionary
petty — Small, minor, of less or inconsiderable importance. The English form of petit, and sometimes used instead of that word in such compounds as petty jury, petty larceny, and petty treason. See misdemeanor petit. As to petty average petty constable… … Black's law dictionary
offense — 1 offensive, aggression, *attack Analogous words: assault, *attack, onslaught, onset 2 Offense, resentment, umbrage, pique, dudgeon, huff are comparable when they mean a person s emotional reaction to what he regards as a slight, an affront, an… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
offense — or offence noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French, from Latin offensa, from feminine of offensus, past participle of offendere Date: 14th century 1. a. obsolete an act of stumbling b. archaic a cause or occasion of sin ; stumbling… … New Collegiate Dictionary
offense — n. infraction 1) to commit an offense 2) a minor, petty, trivial; serious offense 3) a capital; impeachable; indictable offense 4) an offense against feeling of outrage 5) to take offense at (she takes offense at every remark) insult (formal) 6)… … Combinatory dictionary
crime — A positive or negative act in violation of penal law; an offense against the State or United States. Crime and misdemeanor , properly speaking, are synonymous terms; though in common usage crime is made to denote such offenses as are of a more… … Black's law dictionary
