A, the first letter of the English and most other alphabets, is frequently used as an abbreviation, and also in the marks of schedules or papers, as schedule A, B, C, c. Among the Romans this letter was used in criminal trials. The judges were furnished with small tables covered with wax, and each one inscribed1 on it the initial letter of his vote; A, when he voted to absolve2 the party on trial; C, when he was for condemnation3; and N L, when the matter did not appear clearly, and be desired a new argument.
A MENSA ET THORO, from bed and board. A porce a mensa et thoro, is rather a separation of the parties by act of law, than a dissolution of the marriage. It may be granted for the causes of extreme cruelty or desertion of the wife by the hushand. 2 Eccl. Rep. 208. This kind of porce does not affect the legitimacy4 of children, nor authorize5 a second marriage. V. A vinculo matrimonii; Cruelty Divorce.
A PRENDRE, French, to take, to seize, in contracts, as profits a prendre. Ham. N. P. 184; or a right to take something out of the soil. 5 Ad. Ell. 764; 1 N. P. 172 it differs from a right of way, which is simply an ea百度竞价推广ent or interest which confers no interest in the land. 5 B. C. 221.
A QUO, A Latin phrases which signifies from which; example, in the computation of time, the day a quo is not to be counted, but the day ad quem is always included. 13 Toull. n. 52 ; 2 Duv. n. 22. A court a quo, the court from which an appeal has been taken; a judge a quo is a judge of a court below. 6 Mart. Lo. R. 520; 1 Har. Cond. L. R. 501. See Ad quem.
A RENDRE, French, to render, to yield, contracts. Profits a rendre; under this term are comprehended rents and services. Ham N. P. 192.
A VINCULO MATRIMONII, from the bond of marriage. A marriage may be dissolved a vinculo, in many states, as in Pennsylvania, on the ground of canonical6 disabilities before marriage, as that one of the parties was legally married to a person who was then living; impotence, and the like adultery cruelty and malicious7 desertion for two years or more. In New York a sentence of imprisonment8 for life is also a ground for a porce a vinculo. When the marriage is dissolved a vinculo, the parties may marry again but when the cause is adultery, the guilty party cannot marry his or her paramour.
