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Trial by Word: The Constitution

Word List with 20 words
By Dictionary.com
Published December 12, 2011

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Words in This List

tranquillity

Quality or state of being calm; peacefulness; quiet; serenity.

prosperity

A successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects; good fortune.

apportion

To distribute or allocate proportionally; divide and assign according to some rule of proportional distribution.

enumeration

An act that mentions separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in a list.

writ

A formal order under seal, issued in the name of a government, enjoining the other person to whom it is issued or addressed to do or refrain from some specified act.

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concurrence

Accordance in opinion; agreement.

quorum

The number of members of a group or organization required to be present to transact business legally, usually a majority.

emolument

Profit, salary, or fees from office or employment; compensation for services

marque

Seizure by way of reprisal or retaliation.

cession

Act of yielding or formally surrendering to another as by treaty.

attainder

The legal consequence of judgment of death or outlawry for treason or felony, involving the loss of all civil rights.

ex post facto

From or by subsequent action; subsequently; retrospectively; retroactively.

habeas corpus

A writ requiring a person to be brought before a judge or court, especially for investigation of a restraint of the person's liberty, used as a protection against illegal imprisonment.

tender

To present formally for acceptance.

tonnage

A tax on ships or boats at so much per ton of cargo or freight, or according to the capacity in tons.

ordain

To enact or establish by law, edict, etc.

forfeiture

An act of losing the right to something, as for commission of a crime or misdeed, neglect of duty, or violation of a contract.

ratification

The act of confirmation by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction.

redress

To correct or reform (abuses, evils, etc.).