- last antecedent rule
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last antecedent rule n: a doctrine in the interpretation of statutes: qualifying words or phrases refer only to the last antecedent word or phrase unless the context or entire act clearly requires otherwise – called also last antecedent doctrine;
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
- last antecedent rule
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A doctrine of interpretation by which a court finds that qualifying words or phrases refer to the language immediately preceding the qualifier, unless common sense shows that it was meant to apply to something more distant or less obvious. For example, in the phrase "the commercial vehicular license shall not apply to boats, tractors, and trucks under three tons, " the qualifier "under three tons" applies only to trucks and not to boats or tractors.Category: Business, LLCs & CorporationsCategory: Small Claims Court & LawsuitsCategory: Wills, Trusts & Estates
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
- last antecedent rule
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n.a doctrine of interpretation (construction) of statutes that any qualifying words or phrases refer to the language immediately preceding the qualifier, unless common sense shows that it was meant to apply to something more distant or less obvious. Example: "The commercial vehicular license shall not apply to boats, tractors, and trucks, with only four wheels and under three tons:," the qualifier "only four wheels and under three tons" applies only to trucks and not boats or tractors.
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.
