instrument
Other forms: instruments; instrumented
An instrument is usually a tool for making music, like a piano or a guitar, but it can also be used for almost any kind of tool or thing you use to get something done.
A thermometer is an instrument for measuring temperature. A violin is an instrument used for making music. Recent economic woes were blamed on the abuse of certain financial instruments, which is just a fancy way of saying "deals." Your eye is a very sensitive light-collecting instrument, though you'll need a man-made instrument, like an X-ray telescope, if you want to see light outside of the visible spectrum.
Definitions of instrument
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the means whereby some act is accomplished
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a person used by another to gain an end
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a device that requires skill for proper usetypes:cauterant, cauteryan instrument or substance used to destroy tissue for medical reasons (eg removal of a wart) by burning it with a hot iron or an electric current or a caustic or by freezing itdrafting instrumentan instrument used by a draftsman in making drawingsenginean instrument or machine that is used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult, artillery piece, etc.extractoran instrument for extracting tight-fitting componentsinstrument of executionan instrument designed and used to take the life of a condemned personinstrument of punishmentan instrument designed and used to punish a condemned personmeasuring device, measuring instrument, measuring systeminstrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of somethingmedical instrumentinstrument used in the practice of medicinenavigational instrumentan instrument used for navigatingoptical instrumentan instrument designed to aid visionplotteran instrument (usually driven by a computer) for drawing graphs or picturesscientific instrumentan instrument used by scientistssonographan instrument that uses the differential transmission and reflection of ultrasonic waves in order to provide an image of a bodily organtraceran instrument used to make tracingswhipan instrument with a handle and a flexible lash that is used for whippingaccelerator, atom smasher, particle acceleratora scientific instrument that increases the kinetic energy of charged particlesaccelerometeran instrument for measuring the acceleration of aircraft or rocketsactinometeran instrument for measuring the intensity of electromagnetic radiation (usually by the photochemical effect)algometerdevice for measuring pain caused by pressurealidad, alidadesurveying instrument used with a plane table for drawing lines of sight on a distant object and for measuring anglesalidad, alidadesurveying instrument consisting of the upper movable part of a theodolite including the telescope and its attachmentsaltazimuthan instrument that measures the altitude and azimuth of celestial bodies; used in navigationaltimeteran instrument that measures the height above ground; used in navigationartificial horizon, flight indicator, gyro horizona navigational instrument based on a gyroscope; it artificially provides a simulated horizon for the pilotballistocardiograph, cardiographa medical instrument that measures the mechanical force of cardiac contractions and the amount of blood passing through the heart during a specified period by measuring the recoil of the body as blood is pumped from the ventriclesbarometeran instrument that measures atmospheric pressurebattering rama ram used to break down doors of fortified buildingsbinoculars, field glasses, opera glassesan optical instrument designed for simultaneous use by both eyesbolometeran instrument that measures heat radiation; extremely sensitivebowa weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrowbow and arrowa weapon consisting of arrows and the bow to shoot thembrass knuckles, brass knucks, knuckle duster, knuckles, knucksa small metal weapon; worn over the knuckles on the back of the handbronchoscopea slender tubular instrument used to examine the bronchial tubesburet, burettemeasuring instrument consisting of a graduated glass tube with a tap at the bottom; used for titrationcaliper, calliperan instrument for measuring the distance between two points (often used in the plural)calorimetera measuring instrument that determines quantities of heatcanguean instrument of punishment formerly used in China for petty criminals; consists of a heavy wooden collar enclosing the neck and armscardiograph, electrocardiographmedical instrument that records electric currents associated with contractions of the heartarbalest, arbalist, ballista, bricole, catapult, mangonel, onager, trebuchet, trebucketan engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missileschronoscopean instrument for accurate measurements of small intervals of timeclinometer, inclinometeran instrument used by surveyors in order to measure an angle of inclination or elevationcolorimeter, tintometera measuring instrument used in colorimetric analysis to determine the quantity of a substance from the color it yields with specific reagentscompassnavigational instrument for finding directionscompassdrafting instrument used for drawing circlesconsolea scientific instrument consisting of displays and an input device that an operator can use to monitor and control a system (especially a computer system)counter tubea measuring instrument for counting individual ionizing eventscowhidea heavy flexible whip braided from leather made from the hide of a cowcraniometeran instrument for measuring skull sizescryocauteryan instrument for destroying tissue by freezing itcryoscopea measuring instrument for measuring freezing and melting pointscucking stool, ducking stoolan instrument of punishment consisting of a chair in which offenders were ducked in waterdensitometera measuring instrument for determining optical or photographic densitydepth findernavigational instrument used to measure the depth of a body of water (as by ultrasound or radar)dialysis machine, dialyzera medical instrument for separating substances in solution by unequal diffusion through semipermeable membranesdiathermy machinea medical instrument for local heating of bodily tissues for medical purposesdividera drafting instrument resembling a compass that is used for dividing lines into equal segments or for transferring measurementsdosemeter, dosimetera measuring instrument for measuring doses of ionizing radiation (X-rays or radioactivity)echocardiographa sonograph that creates an image of the heart and its abnormalitiesechoencephalographa sonograph that creates an image of the brain and its abnormalitieschair, death chair, electric chair, hot seatan instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles an ordinary seat for one personelectrodynamometermeasuring instrument that uses the interaction of the magnetic fields of two coils to measure current or voltage or powerelectroencephalographmedical instrument that records electric currents generated by the brainelectromyographa medical instrument that records the electrical waves associated with the activity of skeletal muscleselectroscopemeasuring instrument that detects electric charge; two gold leaves diverge owing to repulsion of charges with like signendoscopea long slender medical instrument for examining the interior of a bodily organ or performing minor surgeryeudiometermeasuring instrument consisting of a graduated glass tube for measuring volume changes in chemical reactions between gasesfiberscopea flexible medical instrument involving fiber optics that is used to examine internal organsfire shipa weapon consisting of a ship carrying explosives that is set adrift to destroy enemy shipsflamethrowera weapon that squirts ignited fuel for several yardsforcepsan extractor consisting of a pair of pincers used in medical treatment (especially for the delivery of babies)gallowsan instrument of execution consisting of a wooden frame from which a condemned person is executed by hangingdeath chamber, gas chamberinstrument of execution consisting of a sealed chamber into which poison gas is introduced; used to kill people or animalsgage, gaugea measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.graduatea measuring instrument for measuring fluid volume; a glass container (cup or cylinder or flask) whose sides are marked with or divided into amountsgravimeter, gravity metera measuring instrument for measuring variations in the gravitational field of the earthguillotineinstrument of execution that consists of a weighted blade between two vertical poles; used for beheading peopleguna weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)heliometeran instrument used to measure the angular separation of two stars that are too far apart to be included in the field of view of an ordinary telescopehaematocrit, hematocrita measuring instrument to determine (usually by centrifugation) the relative amounts of corpuscles and plasma in the bloodhodoscope(physics) scientific instrument that traces the path of a charged particlehorsewhipa whip for controlling horseshydrometeran instrument for measuring the specific gravity of a liquidhygrometermeasuring instrument for measuring the relative humidity of the atmospheredip circle, inclinometera measuring instrument for measuring the angle of magnetic dip (as from an airplane)inclinometeran instrument showing the angle that an aircraft makes with the horizoninstrument of torturean instrument of punishment designed and used to inflict torture on the condemned personinterferometerany measuring instrument that uses interference patterns to make accurate measurements of wavesionization chamber, ionization tubea measuring instrument that measures the amount of ionizing radiationjeweler's glassan optical instrument used by jewelers; has one or more lenses and is used to view features not readily seenkatharometermeasures thermal conductivitykeratoscopemedical instrument to examine the cornea in order to detect irregularities in its anterior surfacekicksorter, pulse height analyzerscientific instrument consisting of an electronic circuit that permits only voltage pulses of predetermined height to passknifea weapon with a handle and blade with a sharp pointknouta whip with a lash of leather thongs twisted with wire; used for flogging prisonersKundt's tubea measuring instrument used to measure the speed of soundcymograph, kymographscientific instrument consisting of a rotating drum holding paper on which a stylus traces a continuous record (as of breathing or blood pressure)laryngoscopea medical instrument for examining the larynxlidara measuring system that detects and locates objects on the same principle as radar but uses light from a laser; a potential technology for detecting air turbulence that can affect aircraftlight arma rifle or pistollogmeasuring instrument that consists of a float that trails from a ship by a knotted line in order to measure the ship's speed through the watermagnetographa scientific instrument that registers magnetic variations (especially variations of the earth's magnetic field)magnifiera scientific instrument that magnifies an imagemeasure, measuring rod, measuring stickmeasuring instrument having a sequence of marks at regular intervals; used as a reference in making measurementsmeterany of various measuring instruments for measuring a quantitymicrotomescientific instrument that cuts thin slices of something for microscopic examinationmissilea rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote controlnephoscopea measuring instrument that uses a grid for measuring the altitude, direction, and velocity of movement of cloudsoctanta measuring instrument for measuring angles to a celestial body; similar to a sextant but with 45 degree calibrationophthalmoscopemedical instrument for examining the retina of the eyeauriscope, auroscope, otoscopemedical instrument consisting of a magnifying lens and light; used for examining the external ear (the auditory meatus and especially the tympanic membrane)oximetera measuring instrument that measures the oxygen in arterial bloodpaddlean instrument of punishment consisting of a flat boardpedometermeasuring instrument for recording the number of steps taken in walkingpelvimetermeasuring instrument for performing pelvimetryperiscopean optical instrument that provides a view of an otherwise obstructed fieldphotometermeasuring instrument for measuring the luminous intensity of a source by comparing it (visually or photoelectrically) with a standard sourcepiezometera measuring instrument for measuring high pressurespikemedieval weapon consisting of a spearhead attached to a long pole or pikestaff; superseded by the bayonetpillorya wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the wrists and neck; offenders were locked in and so exposed to public scornpipet, pipettemeasuring instrument consisting of a graduated glass tube used to measure or transfer precise volumes of a liquid by drawing the liquid up into the tubePitot head, Pitot tube, Pitot-static tubemeasuring instrument consisting of a combined Pitot tube and static tube that measures total and static pressure; used in aircraft to measure airspeedPitot, Pitot tubemeasuring instrument consisting of a right-angled tube with an open end that is directed in opposition to the flow of a fluid and used to measure the velocity of fluid flowplane tablesurveying instrument consisting of a drawing board and a ruler that are mounted on a tripod; used to sight and map topographical detailsplethysmographa measuring instrument for measuring changes in volume of a part or organ or whole body (usually resulting from fluctuations in the amount of blood it contains)polygrapha medical instrument that records several physiological processes simultaneously (e.g., pulse rate and blood pressure and respiration and perspiration)potentiometera measuring instrument for measuring direct current electromotive forcesmissile, projectilea weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a target but is not self-propelledprojectoran optical instrument that projects an enlarged image onto a screenprotractordrafting instrument used to draw or measure anglesquadranta measuring instrument for measuring altitude of heavenly bodiesquirtwhip with a leather thong at the endmicrowave radar, radar, radio detection and ranging, radiolocationmeasuring instrument in which the echo of a pulse of microwave radiation is used to detect and locate distant objectsrange finder, rangefindera measuring instrument (acoustic or optical or electronic) for finding the distance of an objectflagpole, range pole, ranging polesurveying instrument consisting of a straight rod painted in bands of alternate red and white each one foot wide; used for sightings by surveyorsrefractometermeasuring instrument for measuring the refractive index of a substancerheometeran instrument for measuring the flow of liquids (especially arterial blood)rhinoscopemedical instrument consisting of a mirror mounted at an angle on a rod; used to examine the nasal passages (through the nasopharynx)sclerometera measuring instrument that measures the hardness of materials by penetrating them with a stylus that has a diamond pointsearing irona hot iron used to destroy tissuesectormeasuring instrument consisting of two graduated arms hinged at one endseismograph, seismometera measuring instrument for detecting and measuring the intensity and direction and duration of movements of the ground (as an earthquake)sensitometera measuring instrument for measuring the light sensitivity of film over a range of exposuressextanta measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octantsightsan optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrumentslashera weapon (a sword or dagger) used for slashingslinga simple weapon consisting of a looped strap in which a projectile is whirled and then releasedasdic, echo sounder, sonara measuring instrument that sends out an acoustic pulse in water and measures distances in terms of the time for the echo of the pulse to returneyeglasses, glasses, specs, spectaclesoptical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective visionspeculuma medical instrument for dilating a bodily passage or cavity in order to examine the interiorspherometera measuring instrument for measuring the curvature of a surfacespirographa measuring instrument for recording the depth and rapidity of breathing movementsspirometera measuring instrument for measuring the vital capacity of the lungsstakeinstrument of execution consisting of a vertical post that a victim is tied to for burningstatic tubea measuring instrument used to measure static pressure in a stream of fluidstethoscopea medical instrument for listening to the sounds generated inside the bodystocksa former instrument of punishment consisting of a heavy timber frame with holes in which the feet (and sometimes the hands) of an offender could be lockedstrapwhip consisting of a strip of leather used in floggingstrobe, strobe light, stroboscopescientific instrument that provides a flashing light synchronized with the periodic movement of an object; can make moving object appear stationarystun baton, stun guna weapon designed to disable a victim temporarily by delivering a nonlethal high-voltage electric shocksurgical instrumenta medical instrument used in surgerysurveyor's levelsurveying instrument consisting basically of a small telescope with an attached spirit level rotating around a vertical axis; for measuring relative heights of landswitcha flexible implement used as an instrument of punishmentblade, brand, steel, sworda cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guardsynchroniser, synchronizer, synchronoscope, synchroscopean instrument that indicates whether two periodic motions are synchronous (especially an instrument that enables a pilot to synchronize the propellers of a plane that has two or more engines)syringea medical instrument used to inject or withdraw fluidst-scope, tachistoscopescientific instrument used by psychologists; presents visual stimuli for brief exposurestape, tape measure, tapelinemeasuring instrument consisting of a narrow strip (cloth or metal) marked in inches or centimeters and used for measuring lengthstelemeterany scientific instrument for observing events at a distance and transmitting the information back to the observertensiometera measuring instrument for measuring the surface tension of a liquidtensiometera measuring instrument for measuring the tension in a wire or fiber or beamtensiometera measuring instrument for measuring the moisture content of soiltheodolite, transita surveying instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, consisting of a small telescope mounted on a tripodthermographmedical instrument that uses an infrared camera to reveal temperature variations on the surface of the bodythermometermeasuring instrument for measuring temperaturetonometermeasuring instrument for measuring tension or pressure (especially for measuring intraocular pressure in testing for glaucoma)torsion balancemeasuring instrument designed to measure small forces by the torsion they exert on a thin wiretriangleany of various triangular drafting instruments used to draw straight lines at specified anglesT-squarea square used by draftsmen to draw parallel linesvariometera measuring instrument for measuring variations in a magnetic fieldVenturi tubea short tube inserted into a pipeline and used to measure the quantity of a liquid that is flowing in the pipelinewattmeteran instrument for measuring in watts the flow of power in an electrical circuitW.M.D., WMD, weapon of mass destructiona weapon that kills or injures civilian as well as military personnel (nuclear and chemical and biological weapons)Greek firea mixture used by Byzantine Greeks that was often shot at adversaries; catches fire when wettedtype of:devicean instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
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any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or soundssynonyms: musical instrumenttypes:barrel organ, grind organ, hand organ, hurdy gurdy, hurdy-gurdy, street organa musical instrument that makes music by rotation of a cylinder studded with pegsbassthe member with the lowest range of a family of musical instrumentscalliope, steam organa musical instrument consisting of a series of steam whistles played from a keyboardelectronic instrument, electronic musical instrumenta musical instrument that generates sounds electronicallyjew's harp, jews' harp, mouth bowa small lyre-shaped musical instrument that is placed between the teeth and played by twanging a wire tongue while changing the shape of the mouth cavitykeyboard instrumenta musical instrument that is played by means of a keyboardmusic box, musical boxproduces music by means of pins on a revolving cylinder that strike the tuned teeth of a comb-like metal platepercussion instrument, percussive instrumenta musical instrument in which the sound is produced by one object striking anotherstringed instrumenta musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of soundwind, wind instrumenta musical instrument in which the sound is produced by an enclosed column of air that is moved by the breathpercussionthe group of instruments that are played by striking with a hand or objectaccordion, piano accordion, squeeze boxa portable box-shaped free-reed instrument; the reeds are made to vibrate by air from the bellows controlled by the playerbanjoa stringed instrument of the guitar family that has long neck and circular bodybass fiddle, bass viol, bull fiddle, contrabass, double bass, string basslargest and lowest member of the violin familybass guitarthe guitar with (usually four) strings that has the lowest pitchbones, castanets, clappers, finger cymbalsa percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dancebrass, brass instrumenta wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) that is blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiececelestaa musical instrument consisting of graduated steel plates that are struck by hammers activated by a keyboardbell, chime, gonga percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer; used as an orchestral instrumentchordophonea stringed instrument of the group including harps, lutes, lyres, and zithersclavichordan early stringed instrument like a piano but with more delicate soundcymbala percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass disk; makes a loud crashing sound when hit with a drumstick or when two are struck togetherdrum, membranophone, tympana musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each enddulcimera stringed instrument used in American folk music; an elliptical body and a fretted fingerboard and three stringsHammond organ, electric organ, electronic organ, organ(music) an electronic simulation of a pipe organfree-reed instrumenta wind instrument with a free reedglockenspiel, orchestral bellsa percussion instrument consisting of a set of graduated metal bars mounted on a frame and played with small hammersgong, tam-tama percussion instrument consisting of a metal plate that is struck with a softheaded drumstickguitara stringed instrument usually having six strings; played by strumming or pluckingkazooa toy wind instrument that has a membrane that makes a sound when you hum into the mouthpiecekettle, kettledrum, timpani, tympani, tympanuma large hemispherical brass or copper percussion instrument with a drumhead that can be tuned by adjusting the tension on itkotoJapanese stringed instrument that resembles a zither; has a rectangular wooden sounding board and usually 13 silk strings that are plucked with the fingerslagerphonean Australian percussion instrument used for playing bush music; a long stick with bottle caps nailed loosely to it; played by hitting it with a stick or banging it on the groundmaracaa percussion instrument consisting of a hollow gourd containing pebbles or beans; often played in pairsorgan, pipe organwind instrument whose sound is produced by means of pipes arranged in sets supplied with air from a bellows and controlled from a large complex musical keyboardforte-piano, piano, pianofortea keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce soundspipea tubular wind instrumentpost hornwind instrument used by postilions of the 18th and 19th centuriespsalteryan ancient stringed instrument similar to the lyre or zither but having a trapezoidal sounding board under the stringsrain sticka percussion instrument that is made from a dried cactus branch that is hollowed out and filled with small pebbles and capped at both ends; makes the sound of falling rain when tilted; origin was in Chile where tribesmen used it in ceremonies to bring rainsamisen, shamisena Japanese stringed instrument resembling a banjo with a long neck and three strings and a fretted fingerboard and a rectangular soundbox; played with a plectrumsitara stringed instrument of India; has a long neck and movable frets; has 6 or 7 metal strings for playing and usually 13 resonating stringssteel druma concave percussion instrument made from the metal top of an oil drum; has an array of flattened areas that produce different tones when struck (of Caribbean origin)synthesiser, synthesizer(music) an electronic instrument (usually played with a keyboard) that generates and modifies sounds electronically and can imitate a variety of other musical instrumentsthereminan electronic musical instrument; melodies can be played by moving the right hand between two rods that serve as antennas to control pitch; the left hand controls phrasingtrianglea percussion instrument consisting of a metal bar bent in the shape of an open trianglevibes, vibraharp, vibraphonea percussion instrument similar to a xylophone but having metal bars and rotating disks in the resonators that produce a vibrato soundwhistlea small wind instrument that produces a whistling sound by blowing into ittype of:devicean instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
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the semantic role of the entity (usually inanimate) that the agent uses to perform an action or start a processsynonyms: instrumental roletype of:participant role, semantic role(linguistics) the underlying relation that a constituent has with the main verb in a clause
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equip with instruments for measuring, recording, or controlling
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write an instrumental score forsynonyms: instrumentate
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(law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some rightsynonyms: legal document, legal instrument, official documenttypes:articles of incorporationa legal document that creates a corporation; it is filed with a state by the founders of a corporation and is governed by the laws of the statenegotiable instrumentan unconditional order or promise to pay an amount of moneypassporta document issued by a country to a citizen allowing that person to travel abroad and re-enter the home countryship's papersofficial papers which a ship is legally required to have; related to ownership, cargo, etc.manifesta customs document listing the contents put on a ship or planedebenturea certificate or voucher acknowledging a debtpower of attorneya legal instrument authorizing someone to act as the grantor's agentletters of administrationlegal document naming someone to administer an estate when no executor has been namedletters testamentarya legal document from a probate court or court officer informing you of your appointment as executor of a will and empowering you to discharge those responsibilitieswork papers, work permit, working papersa legal document giving information required for employment of certain people in certain countriesact, enactmenta legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative bodylawlegal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activitytestament, willa legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they dieliving willa document written by someone still legally capable requesting that he should be allowed to die if subsequently severely disabled or suffering terminal illnessdeed, deed of conveyance, titlea legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess itassignmentthe instrument by which a claim or right or interest or property is transferred from one person to anotherdeed of trust, trust deeda written instrument legally conveying property to a trustee often used to secure an obligation such as a mortgage or promissory noteconveyancedocument effecting a property transferincome tax return, return, tax returndocument giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liabilityjudgement, judgment, legal opinion, opinionthe legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decisionaffidavitwritten declaration made under oath; a written statement sworn to be true before someone legally authorized to administer an oathwritten agreementa legal document summarizing the agreement between partiesbill of indictment, indictmenta formal document written for a prosecuting attorney charging a person with some offenseimpeachmenta formal document charging a public official with misconduct in officearraignmenta legal document calling someone to court to answer an indictmentcertificate, securitya formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividendsOld Testamentthe collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the Hebrews and recording their history as the chosen people; the first half of the Christian BibleNew Testamentthe collection of books of the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, the Pauline and other epistles, and Revelation; composed soon after Christ's death; the second half of the Christian Biblefutures contractan agreement to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity or financial instrument at a particular price on a stipulated future date; the contract can be sold before the settlement datecontracta binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by lawstock powera power of attorney document to transfer ownership of a registered security from the owner to another partyproxya power of attorney document given by shareholders of a corporation authorizing a specific vote on their behalf at a corporate meetingnullitysomething that is null (especially an enactment that has no legal validity)anti-drug lawa law forbidding the sale or use of narcotic drugsRICO, RICO Act, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, anti-racketeering lawlaw intended to eradicate organized crime by establishing strong sanctions and forfeiture provisionsantitrust law, antitrust legislationlaw intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopoliesstatute of limitationsa statute prescribing the time period during which legal action can be takenconstitution, fundamental law, organic lawlaw determining the fundamental political principles of a governmentpublic lawa law affecting the public at largeappropriation billa legislative act proposing to authorize the expenditure of public funds for a specified purposebill of attaindera legislative act finding a person guilty of treason or felony without a trialbottle billa statute that would require merchants to reclaim used bottlesfarm billa statute that would regulate farm production and pricestrade billa statute that would regulate foreign tradeblue lawa statute regulating work on Sundaysblue sky lawa state law regulating the sale of securities in an attempt to control the sale of securities in fraudulent enterprisesgag lawany law that limits freedom of the presshomestead lawa law conferring privileges on owners of homesteadspoor lawa law providing support for the poorRiot Acta former English law requiring mobs to disperse after a magistrate reads the law to themcourt ordera writ issued by a court of law requiring a person to do something or to refrain from doing somethingdecree, edict, fiat, order, rescripta legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge)prohibitiona law forbidding the sale of alcoholic beveragesamicus curiae briefa brief presented by someone interested in influencing the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to itbill of salea deed transferring personal propertydeed polla deed made and executed by only one partyenfeoffmentunder the feudal system, the deed by which a person was given land in exchange for a pledge of servicemortgage deeddeed embodying a mortgagetitle deeda legal document proving a person's right to propertywarranta writ from a court commanding police to perform specified actsamended returna tax return that corrects the information in an earlier returndeclaration of estimated tax, estimated tax returnreturn required of a taxpayer whose tax withheld from income does not meet the tax liability for the yearfalse returnan incorrect income tax returninformation returna return that provides information to the tax collector but does not compute the tax liabilityjoint returna return filed by a husband and wifebuilding permita document authorizing the holder to construct a building of a particular kind on a particular lotdriver's licence, driver's license, driving licence, driving licensea license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehiclefishing licence, fishing license, fishing permita license authorizing the bearer to fish during a specified period of timegame license, hunting licence, hunting license, hunting permita license authorizing the bearer to kill a certain type of animal during a specified period of timelearner's permita document authorizing the bearer to learn to drive an automobileletter of mark and reprisal, letter of marque, letters of marquea license to a private citizen to seize property of another nationmarriage licence, marriage license, wedding licence, wedding licensea license authorizing two people to marryconcurring opinionan opinion that agrees with the court's disposition of the case but is written to express a particular judge's reasoningdissenting opinionan opinion that disagrees with the court's disposition of the casemajority opinionthe opinion joined by a majority of the court (generally known simply as `the opinion')assizean ancient writ issued by a court of assize to the sheriff for the recovery of propertycertiorari, writ of certioraria common law writ issued by a superior court to one of inferior jurisdiction demanding the record of a particular casevenire faciasa judicial writ ordering a sheriff to summon people for jury dutymandamus, writ of mandamusan extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies failattachmenta writ authorizing the seizure of property that may be needed for the payment of a judgment in a judicial proceedingfieri faciasa writ ordering a levy on the belongings of a debtor to satisfy the debtscire faciasa judicial writ based on some record and requiring the party against whom it is brought to show cause why the record should not be enforced or annulledsequestrationa writ that authorizes the seizure of propertywrit of detinuea writ ordering the release of goods that have been unlawfully detainedwrit of electiona writ ordering the holding of an electionwrit of errora judicial writ from an appellate court ordering the court of record to produce the records of trialwrit of prohibitiona judicial writ from a higher court ordering a lower court not to exercise jurisdiction in a particular casewrit of righta writ ordering that land be restored to its rightful ownerprocess, summonsa writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendantsubpoena, subpoena ad testificanduma writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of courtsubpoena duces tecuma writ issued by a court at the request of one of the parties to a suit; it requires a witness to bring to court or to a deposition any relevant documents under the witness's controlverification(law) an affidavit attached to a statement confirming the truth of that statementfatwah(Islam) a legal opinion or ruling issued by an Islamic scholardictum, obiter dictuman opinion voiced by a judge on a point of law not directly bearing on the case in question and therefore not bindingsubmissiona legal document summarizing an agreement between parties in a dispute to abide by the decision of an arbitercompact, concordat, covenanta signed written agreement between two or more parties (nations) to perform some actionindentureformal agreement between the issuer of bonds and the bondholders as to terms of the debtobligationa legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to complytrue billan indictment endorsed by a grand juryoptionthe right to buy or sell property at an agreed price; the right is purchased and if it is not exercised by a stated date the money is forfeitedagency security, government securitya security issued by United States government agencies or the Farm Credit Systemmortgage-backed securitya security created when a group of mortgages are gathered together and bonds are sold to other institutions or the public; investors receive a portion of the interest payments on the mortgages as well as the principal payments; usually guaranteed by the governmentregistered securitya security whose owner's name is recorded on the books of the issuer (or issuer's agent)bill of exchange, draft, order of paymenta document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on anotherescrowa written agreement (or property or money) delivered to a third party or put in trust by one party to a contract to be returned after fulfillment of some conditiondevisea will disposing of real propertyscripa certificate whose value is recognized by the payer and payee; scrip is not currency but may be convertible into currencybond, bond certificatea certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principalzero coupon security, zero-coupon securitya security that makes no interest payments but instead is sold at a deep discount from its face valuepartnership certificatea certificate showing the interests of all parties in a business partnershipproprietorship certificatea certificate showing who is responsible in an individually owned businessconvertible, convertible securitya corporate security (usually bonds or preferred stock) that can be exchanged for another form of security (usually common stock)letter securitya stock or bond that is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and cannot be sold in the public marketlisted securitya security that has been accepted for trading by one of the organized and registered securities exchanges in the USOTC security, over the counter security, unlisted securitya security traded in the over-the-counter markettype of:document, papers, written documentwriting that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
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address a legal document to
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Macbeth's "Is this a dagger..." soliloquy
from Shakespeare's "Macbeth" -- Act II Scene 1
John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
In his inaugural address, President Kennedy famously declared, "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."