ages so that upon the default or death of any par
ticipant, his or her advantages are distributed among
the remaining participants until only one remains,
whereupon the whole goes to that sale participant.
Under the tontine plan ofinsurance, no accumulation
or earnings are credited to the policy unless it remains
in force for the tontine period of a specified number
ofyears. Thus, those who survive the period and keep
their policies in force share in the accumulated funds,
and those who die or permit their policies to lapse
during the period do not. This type ofpolicy takes its
name from Lorenzo Tonti, an Italian who invented it
in the 17th century. Today, newer and more ingenious
forms ofinsurance have largely made tontine
defunct. See TONTINE. [Cases: Insurance
umbrella policy. An insurance policy covering losses
that exceed the basic or usual limits of liability
provided by other policies. See umbrella insurance
under INSURANCE. [Cases: Insurance
2394.J
unvalued policy. A policy that does not state a value
of the insured property but that, upon loss, requires
proof of the property's worth. -Also termed open
policy.
valued policy. An insurance policy in which the sum
to be paid when a loss occurs is fixed by the terms
of the contract.  The value agreed on is conclusive
for a total loss and provides a basis for determining
recovery in cases of partial loss. This value is in the
nature ofliquidated damages. [Cases: Insurance
2171.]
voyage policy. A marine-insurance policy that insures
a vessel or its cargo during a specified voyage.
wager policy. An insurance policy issued to a person
who is shown to have no insurable interest in the
person or property covered by the policy. Wager
poliCies are illegal in most states. -Also termed
gambling policy; graveyard insurance. See insurable
interest under INTEREST (2). Cf. interest policy. [Cases:
Insurance
insurance pool. (1935) A group of several insurers that,
to spread the risk, combine and share premiums and
losses.
insurance premium. See PREMIUM (1).
insurance rating. (1905) The process by which an
insurer arrives at a policy premium for a particular
risk. Often shortened to rating. [Cases: Insurance
C::'154LJ
Insurance Services Office. A nonprofit organization that
provides analytical and decision-support services and

879
tools to the insurance industry, including statistical,
actuarial, underwriting, and claims data, and drafts of
model insurance policy forms and coverage provisions.
-The organization is composed of member insurers.
It provides data and information to its members and
also to nonmember subscribers, such as risk managers,
insurance regulators, and self-insureds. Abbr. ISO.
insurance trust. See TRUST.
insurance underwriter. See UNDERWRITER.
insurant, n. A person who obtains insurance or to whom
an insurance policy is issued. -This term is much less
common than the attributive noun insured.
insure, vb. (17c) 1. To secure, by payment ofa premium,
the payment of a sum of money in the event ofa loss.
[Cases: Insurance (:=::> 1001.] 2. To issue or procure an
insurance policy on or for (someone or something).
insured, n. (17c) A person who is covered or protected
by an insurance policy. -Also termed assured. [Cases:
Insurance (::='2100.J
additional insured. (1929) A person who is covered
by an insurance policy but who is not the primary
insured. -An additional insured may, or may not,
be specifically named in the policy. If the person is
named, then the term is sometimes named additional
insured. -Also termed secondary insured. [Cases:
Insurance (::='2100.]
class-one insured. (1982) In a motor-vehicle policy,
the named insured and any relative residing with the
named insured. [Cases: Insurance C::>2660.J
class-two insured. (1985) In a motor-vehicle policy, a
person lawfully occupying a vehicle at the time ofan
accident. [Cases: Insurance (:=::>2660.]
first-named insured. See primary insured.
named insured. (1899) A person designated in an insur
ance policy as the one covered by the policy. [Cases:
Insurance (:=::>2100.]
primary insured. The individual or entity whose name
appears first in the declarations of an insurance
policy. Also termed first-named insured.
insurer. (I7c) One who agrees, by contract, to assume
the risk of another's loss and to compensate for that
loss. -Also termed underwriter; insurance under
writer; carrier; assurer (for life insurance). [Cases:
Insurance (:=::> 1002.]
excess insurer. An insurer who is liable for settling any
part ofa claim not covered by an insured's primary
insurer. Also termed secondary insurer. Seeprimary
insurer. [Cases: Insurance (:=::>2110.)
primary insurer. An insurer who is contractually com
mitted to settling a claim up to the applicable policy
limit before any other insurer becomes liable for any
part of the same claim. See excess insurer. [Cases:
Insurance (::=02110.)
quasi-insurer. (1830) A service provider who is held to
strict liability in the provision ofservices, such as an
innkeeper or a common carrier. intangible drilling cost
secondary insurer. See excess insurer.
insurgent, n. (I8c) A person who, for political purposes,
engages in armed hostility against an established gov
ernment. -insurgent, adj. -insurgency, n.
insuring agreement. See INSURING CLAllSE.
insuring clause. A provision in an insurance policy
or bond reciting the risk assumed by the insurer or
establishing the scope ofthe coverage. -Also termed
insuring agreement. [Cases: Insurance (::=2097.)
insurrection. (lSc) A violent revolt against an oppressive
authority, usu. a government.
"Insurrection is distinguished from rout, riot, and offense
connected with mob violence by the fact that in insurrection
there is an organized and armed uprising against authority
or operations of government, while crimes growing out of
mob violence. however serious they may be and however
numerous the participants, are simply unlawful acts in dis
turbance of the peace which do not threaten the stability
of the government or the eXistence of political SOCiety." 77
c.j.S, Riot; Insurrection  29, at 579 (1994).
intact family. See FAMILY.
in tail. See TAIL.
intake, n. (1943) 1. The official screening of a juvenile
charged with an offense in order to determine where to
determine where to place the juvenile pending formal
adjudication or informal disposition. 2. The body of
officers who conduct this screening. 3. Hist. English law.
A piece ofland temporarily taken from a common or
moorland by a tenant to raise a crop.
intake day. (1985) The day on which new cases are
assigned to the courts.
intaker. Hist. See FENCE (1).
intangible, adj. (17c) Not capable of being touched;
impalpable; INCORPOREAL.
intangible, n. (1914) Something that lacks a physical
form; an abstraction, such as responsibility; esp.,
an asset that is not corporeal, such as intellectual
property.
general intangible. (1935) Any personal property
other than goods, accounts, chattel paper, docu
ments, instruments, investment property, rights to
proceeds ofwritten letters of credit, and money. _
Some examples are goodwill, things in action, and
literary rights. DCC  9-102(a)(42). See intangible
property under PROPERTY. [Cases: Secured Transac
tions (;:::) 11.1, 14.1, 115.1.]
payment intangible. (1996) A general intangible under
which the account debtor's principal obligation is a
monetary obligation. DCC  9-102(a)(61).
intangible asset. 1. See ASSET. 2. See INTANGIBLE TRADE
VALUE.
intangible drilling cost. Oil & gas. An expense that is
incident to and necessary for drilling and completing
an oil or gas well and that has no salvage value . Intan
gible drilling costs may be deducted in the year they
are incurred rather than capitalized and depreciated.
26 DSCA  612.

880 intangible movable
intangible movable. See MOVABLE.
intangible property. See PROPERTY.
intangible-rights doctrine. The rule that a person is
entitled to receive honest services from those in the
public sector or in the private sector who have fiduciary
duties to the person . Public-sector intangible rights
derive from public officials' implied fiduciary duty to
make governmental decisions in the public interest.
Private-sector intangible rights arise out of fiduciary
relationships. The intangible-rights doctrine is codified
at 18 USCA  1346. -Also termed honest-services
doctrine. [Cases: Postal Service C=>35(9).]
intangible tax. See TAX.
intangible thing. See incorporeal thing under THING.
intangible trade property. See INTANGIBLE TRADE
VALUE.
intangible trade value. Intellectual property. The
measure of an enterprise's proprietary information,
ideas, goodwill, and other nonphysical commercial
assets. The law of misappropriation provides some
protection against the taking ofintangible trade values
to compete unfairly with their original owner. -Also
termed intangible asset; intangible trade property.
in tantum (in tan-tJm). [Latin] Hist. To that extent;
insofar. Cf. PRO TANTO.
integer (in-tJ-jJr), adj. [Latin] Archaic. Whole; untouched.
See RES NOVA.
integrated agreement. See INTEGRATED CONTRACT.
integrated bar. See BAR.
integrated contract. (1930) One or more writings con
stituting a final expression of one or more terms of an
agreement. -Also termed integrated agreement; inte
grated writing. See INTEGRATION (2). [Cases: Contracts
C=>245; Evidence C=>397(2).]
completely integrated contract. (1950) An integrated
agreement adopted by the parties as a full and exclu
sive statement of the terms of the agreement . 1he
parties are therefore prohibited from varying or
supplementing the contractual terms through parol
(extrinsic) evidence. [Cases: Evidence C=>397(2).]
partially integrated contract. (1958) An agreement in
which some, but not all, of the terms are integrated;
any agreement other than a completely integrated
agreement. [Cases: Evidence C=>397(2).]
integrated property settlement. See PROPERTY SETTLE
MENT (2).
integrated writing. See INTEGRATED CONTRACT.
integration. (l7c) 1. The process of making whole or
combining into one. 2. Contracts. The full expression
ofthe parties' agreement, so that all earlier agreements
are superseded, the effect being that neither party may
later contradict or add to the contractual terms. -Also
termed merger. See PAROL-EVIDENCE RULE. [Cases:
Contracts C=>245; Evidence C=>397(2).] complete integration. (1930) The fact or state of fully
expressing the intent ofthe parties . Parol evidence is
therefore inadmissible. [Cases: Evidence C=>397(2).]
partial integration. (1910) The fact or state ofnot fully
expressing the parties' intent. Parol (extrinsic)
evidence is admissible to clear up ambiguities with
respect to the terms that are not integrated. [Cases:
Evidence C=>397(2).]
3. Wills & estates. The combining of more than one
writing into a single document to form the testator's last
will and testament.  The other writing must be present
at the time of execution and intended to be included
in the will. The issue of integration is more compli
cated when it concerns a holographic will, which may
be composed of more than one document written at
different times. 4. The incorporation of different races
into existing institutions (such as public schools) for the
purpose ofreversing the historical effects ofracial dis
crimination. Cf. DESEGREGATION. [Cases: Schools C=>
13(4).] 5. Antitrust. A firm's performance ofa function
that it could have obtained on the open market.  A
firm can achieve integration by entering a new market
on its own, by acquiring a firm that operates in a sec
ondary market, or by entering into a contract with
a firm that operates in a secondary market. -Also
termed vertical integration. See vertical merger under
MERGER.
backward integration. A firm's acquisition of owner
ship of facilities that produce raw materials or parts
for the firm's products.
6. Securities. The requirement that all security offer
ings over a given period are to be considered a single
offering for purposes of determining an exemption
from registration . The Securities and Exchange
Commission and the courts apply five criteria to deter
mine whether two or more transactions are part ofthe
same offering of securities: (1) whether the offerings
are part of a single plan of financing, (2) whether the
offerings involve issuance of the same class of securi
ties, (3) whether the offerings are made at or about the
same time, (4) whether the same type ofconsideration
is received, and (5) whether the offerings are made for
the same general purpose. 17 CFR  230.502. [Cases:
Securities Regulation C=> 18.14.]
integration clause. (1941) A contractual provision stating
that the contract represents the parties' complete and
final


4.]
integration clause. (1941) A contractual provision stating
that the contract represents the parties' complete and
final agreement and supersedes all informal under
standings and oral agreements relating to the subject
matter of the contract. -Also termed merger clause;
entire-agreement clause. See INTEGRATION (2); PAROL
EVIDENCE RULE. [Cases: Contracts C=>245; Evidence
C=>397(2).]
integration rule. (1899) The rule that if the parties to
a contract have embodied their agreement in a final
document, any other action or statement is without
effect and is immaterial in determining the terms of
the contract. See PAROL EVIDENCE RULE. [Cases: Con
tracts C=>245; Evidence C=>397(2).]

integrity right. Copyright. The right of authors and
artists to insist that their creative works not be changed
without their authorization . Integrity is one of the
moral rights of the moral rights of artists recognized
in civil-law countries, including much of Europe, but
largely unavailable in the United States. Cf. MORAL
RIGHT; ATTRIBUTION RIGHT. [Cases: Copyrights and
Intellectual Property C-~6.1
intellectual property. (1808) 1. A category ofintangible
rights protecting commercially valuable products of
the human intellect.  The category comprises primar
ily trademark, copyright, and patent rights, but also
includes trade-secret rights, publicity rights, moral
rights, and rights against unfair competition. [Cases:
Copyrights and Intellectual Property (;::::> 1.] 2. A com
mercially valuable product of the human intellect, in
a concrete or abstract form, such as a copyrightable
work, a protectable trademark, a patentable invention,
or a trade secret. -Abbr. IP.
"While there is a close relationship between intangible
property and the tangible objects in which they are
embodied, intellectual property rights are distinct and
separate from property rights in tangible goods. For
example, when a person posts a letter to someone, the
personal property in the ink and parchment is transferred
to the recipient .... [Tlhe sender (as author) retains intel
lectual property rights in the letter." Lionel Bently & Brad
Sherman, Intellectual Property Law 1-2 (2001).
intemperance. (ISc) A lack of moderation or temper
ance; esp., habitual or excessive drinking of alcoholic
beverages. [Cases: Chemical Dependents C~1.J
in tempus indebitum (in tem-p<ls in-deb-i-t<lm). [Law
Latin] Hist. At an undue time.
intend, vb. (14c) 1. To have in mind a fixed purpose
to reach a desired objective; to have as one's purpose
<Daniel intended to become a lawyer>. 2. To con
template that the usual consequences of one's act will
probably or necessarily follow from the act, whether or
not those consequences are desired for their own sake
<although he activated the theater's fire alarm only on
a dare, the jury found that Wilbur intended to cause
a panic>. 3. To signify or mean <the parties intended
for the writing to supersede their earlier handshake
deal>.
intendant (in-ten-d<lnt). A director of a government
agency, esp. (as used in 17th-and 18th-century France)
a royal official charged with the administration of
justice or finance.
intended beneficiary. See BENEFICIARY.
intended child. See CHILD.
intended parent. See intentional parent under PARENT.
intended to be recorded. (I8c) (Ofa deed or other instru
ment) not yet filed with a public registry, but forming
a link in a chain oftitle. [Cases: Deeds ~~88; Records
19.1
intended-use doctrine. (1967) Products liability. The rule
imposing a duty on a manufacturer to develop a product
so that it is reasonably safe for its intended or foresee
able users . In determining the scope ofresponsibility, the court considers the defendant's marketing scheme
and the foreseeability of the harm. [Cases: Products
Liability 151.]
intendment (in-tend-m;mt). (14c) 1. The sense in which
the law understands something <the intendment of a
contract is that the contract is legally enforceable>.
Also termed intendment oflaw. 2. A decision-maker's
inference about the true meaning or intention of a
legal instrument <there is no need for intendment, the
court reasoned, when the text ofthe statute is clear>.
Formerly also spelled entendment.
common intendment. The natural or common meaning
in legal interpretation.
3. A person's expectations when interacting with others
within the legal sphere.
"Our institutions and our formalized interactions with one
another are accompanied by certain interlocking expecta
tions that may be called intendments, even thoug h there
is seldom occaSion to bring these underlying expectations
across the threshold of consciousness. In a very real sense
when I cast my vote in an election my conduct is directed
and conditioned by an anticipation that my ballot will be
counted in favor of the candidate I actually vote for. This
is true even though the possibility that my ballot will be
thrown in the wastebasket, or counted for the wrong man,
may never enter my mind as an object of conscious atten
tion. In this sense the institution of elections may be said
to contain an intendment that the votes cast will be faith
fully tallied, though I might hesitate to say, except in a
mood of rhetoric, that the election authorities had entered
a contract with me to count my vote as I had cast it." Lon L.
Fuller, The Morality ofLaw 217 (rev. ed. 1969).
intent. (l3c) 1. lhe state ofmind accompanying an act,
esp. a forbidden act.  While motive is the inducement
to do some act, intent is the mental resolution or deter
mination to do it. When the intent to do an act that
violates the law exists, motive becomes immaterial. Cf.
MOTIVE; SCIENTER.
"The phrase 'with intent to,' or its equivalents, may mean
anyone of at least four different things: (1) That the
intent referred to must be the sole or exclUSive intent; (2)
that it is sufficient if it is one of several concurrent intents;
(3) that it must be the chief or dominant intent, any others
being subordinate or inCidental; (4) that it must be a deter
mining intent, that is to say, an intent in the absence of
which the act would not have been done, the remaining
purposes being insuffiCient motives by themselves. It is a
question of construction which of those meanings is the
true one in the particular case." John Salmond, Jurispru,
dence 383-84 (Glanville L. Williams ed., 10th ed. 1947).
constructive intent. (1864) A legal principle that actual
intent will be presumed when an act leading to the
result could have been reasonably expected to cause
that result.
"Constructive intent is a fiction which permits lip service
to the notion that intention is essential to criminality, while
recognizing that unintended consequences of an act may
sometimes be sufficient for gUilt of some offenses." Rollin
M. Perkins & Ronald N. Boyce, Criminal Law 835 (3d ed.
1982).
criminal intent. (17c) 1. MENS REA. 2. An intent to
commit an actus reus without any justification,
excuse, or other defense. Also termed felonious

intent. See specific intent. [Cases: Criminal Law
20.)
"The phrase 'criminal intent' is one that has been bandied
about with various meanings not carefully distinguished.
At times it has been used in the sense of the 'intent to do
wrong' (the olltline of the mental pattern which is necessary
for crime in general), as, for example, in the phrase 'the
mental element commonly called criminal intent.' At times
it has been used in the sense of mens rea as the mental
element requisite for guilt of the very offense charged, 'a
varying state of mind which is the contrary of an innocent
state of mind, whatever may be pointed out by the nature of
the crime as an innocent state of mind.' Often it is used to
include criminal negligence as well as an actual intent to do
the harmful deed, although at other times such negligence
is referred to as a substitute, so to speak, for criminal intent
in connection with certain offenses. Occasionally it is found
in the sense of an intent to violate the law, -implying a
knowledge of the law violated. On the other hand, as such
knowledge is a factor not ordinarily required for convic
tion it has been pointed out that to establish ignorance
of the law does not disprove criminal intent. Thus it has
been said (assuming the absence of any circumstance of
exculpation) 'whenever an act is criminal, the party doing
the act is chargeable with criminal intent: ... This suggests
a helpful guide for the use of the phrase 'criminal intent.'
Some other term such as mens rea or guilty mind should be
employed for more general purposes, and 'criminal intent'
be restricted to those situations in which there is (l) an
intent to do the actus reus, and (2) no circumstance of
eXCUlpation." Rollin M. Perkins & Ronald N. Boyce, Criminal
Low 832-34 (3d ed. 1982).
donative intent. The intent to surrender dominion and
control over the gift that is being made. [Cases: Gifts
15,60.)
felonious intent. See criminal intent.
general intent. (17c) The intent to perform an act even
though the actor does not desire the consequences
that result. _ This is the state of mind required for
the commission ofcertain common-law crimes not
requiring a specific intent or not imposing strict
liability. General intent usu. takes the form of reck
lessness (involving actual awareness ofa risk and the
culpable taking of that risk) or negligence (involving
blameworthy inadvertence). -Also termed general
criminal intent; general mens rea. [Cases: Criminal
Law
immediate intent. (18c) The intent relating to a
wrongful act; the part of the total intent coincident
with the wrongful act itself.
implied intent. (l8c) A person's state of mind that
can be inferred from speech or conduct, or from
language used in an instrument to which the person
is a party.
intent to kill. (16c) An intent to cause the death of
another; esp., a state of mind that, if found to exist
during an assault, can serve as the basis for an aggra
vated-assault charge. [Cases: Assault and Battery (;:::
49; Homicide C=:>526.)
larcenous intent. (1832) A state ofmind existing when a
person (1) knowingly takes away the goods ofanother
without any claim or pretense of a right to do so, and
(2) intends to permanently deprive the owner ofthem or to convert the goods to personal use. See LARCENY.
[Cases: Larceny C=:>3.)
manifest intent. (l7c) Intent that is apparent or obvious
based on the available circumstantial evidence, even
if direct evidence of intent is not available. -For
example, some fidelity bonds cover an employer's
losses caused by an employee's dishonest or fraudu
lent acts committed with a manifest intent to cause
a loss to the employer and to obtain a benefit for the
employee. Establishing manifest intent sufficient to
trigger coverage does not require direct evidence that
the employee intended the employer's loss. Even if
the employee did not actively want that result, but
the result was substantially certain to follow from
the employee's conduct, the requisite intent will be
inferred.
predatory intent. Antitrust. A business's intent to
injure a competitor by unfair means, esp. by sacrific
ing revenues to drive a competitor out of business.
[Cases: Antitrust and Trade Regulation
specific intent. (18c) The intent to accomplish the
precise criminal act that one is later charged with.
-At common law, the specific-intent crimes were
robbery, assault, larceny, burglary, forgery, false
pretenses, embezzlement, attempt, solicitation, and
conspiracy. Also termed criminal intent. See SPE
CIFIC-INTENT DEFENSE. [Cases: Criminal Law
20.]
testamentary intent. (1830) A testator's intent that a
particular instrument function as his or her last will
and testament . Testamentary intent is required for
a will to be valid. [Cases: Wills (~'438.)
transferred intent. (1932) Intent that the law may
shift from an originally intended wrongful act to a
wrongful act actually committed. -For example, if
a person intends to kill one person but kills another
inadvertently, the intent may be transferred to the
actual act. See TRANSFERRED-INTENT DOCTRINE.
[Cases: Criminal Law C=:>25; Homicide
702,731.)
ulterior intent. (1848) The intent that passes beyond a
wrongful act and relates to the objective for the sake
of which the act is done; MOTIVE. -For example, a
thief's immediate intent may be to steal another's
money, but the ulterior intent may be to buy food
with that money.
2. A lawmaker's state of mind and purpose in drafting
or voting for a measure. [Cases: Statutes 181(1),
184.]
legislative intent. See LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
original intent. (17c) The mental state ofthe drafters or
enactors of the U.S. Constitution, a statute, or another
document.
intentio (in-ten-shee-oh), n. [Latin]l. Roman law. The
part ofa formula in which the plaintiff's claim against
the defendant is stated. See FORMULA (1). 2. Hist. A
count or declaration in a real action . Intentio was

an earlier name for narratio. See NARRATIO. PI. inten
tiones (in-ten-shee-oh-neez).
intention, n. (14c) The willingness to bring about some
thing planned or foreseen; the state ofbeing set to do
something. intentional, adj.
"Intention is


some
thing planned or foreseen; the state ofbeing set to do
something. intentional, adj.
"Intention is the purpose or design with which an act is
done. It is the foreknowledge of the act, coupled with the
desire of it, such foreknowledge and desire being the cause
of the act, inasmuch as they fulfil themselves through the
operation of the will. An act is intentional if, and in so far
as, it exists in idea before it exists in fact, the idea realis
ing itself in the fact because of the desire by which it is
accompanied." John Salmond, Jurisprudence 378 (Glanville
L. Williams ed., 10th ed. 1947).
"Intention. This signifies full advertence in the mind of
the defendant to his conduct, which is in question, and to
its consequences, together with a desire for those conse
quences." P.H. Winfield, A Textbook ofthe Law ofTort  10,
at 19 (5th ed. 1950).
intentional, adj. (17c) Done with the aim of carrying
out the act.
intentional act. See ACT.
intentional father. See intentional parent under PARENT.
intentional fraud. See FRAUD (1).
intentional infliction of emotional distress. (1958)
The tort of intentionally or recklessly causing another
person severe emotional distress through one's extreme
or outrageous acts . In a few jurisdictions, a physical
manifestation of the mental suffering is required for
the plaintiff to recover. Abbr. IIED. Also termed
(in some states) outrage. See EMOTIONAL DISTRESS.
Cf. NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS.
[Cases: Damages (;::~'S7.19.]
intentional-injury exclusion. See expectedlintended
exclusion under EXCLUSION (3).
intentional invasion. See INVASION.
intentional manslaughter. See voluntary manslaughter
under MANSLAUGHTER.
intentional mother. See intentional parent under
PARENT.
intentional parent. See PARENT.
intentional tort. See TORT.
intentional wrong. See WRONG.
intent ofthe legislature. See LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
intent to kill. See INTENT (1).
intent to publish. Defamation. The intent to communi
cate (defamatory words, etc.) to a third person or with
knowledge that the communication will probably reach
third persons. See PUBLISH (2).
intent to use. See BONA FIDE INTENT TO USE.
intent-to-use application. See TRADEMARK APPLICA
TION.
inter (in-tJr), prep. [Latin] Among.
inter alia (in-tJr ay-Iee-J or ah-Iee-J), adv. [Latin] (l7c)
Among other things. inter alios (in-tJr ay-Iee-J$ or ah-Iee-Js), adv. [Latin] (17c)
Among other persons.
Inter-American Bar Association. An organization of
lawyers from North America, Central America, and
South America whose purpose is to promote educa
tion, cooperation, and profeSSional exchanges among
lawyers from different American countries. Abbr.
IABA.
Inter-American Foundation. An independent federal
foundation that supports social and economic develop
ment in Latin America and the Caribbean by making
grants to private, indigenous organizations that carry
out self-help projects benefiting poor people. 'lbe
agency is governed by a nine-member board six from
the private sector and three from the government. It
was created in 1969 as an experimental foreign-assis
tance program. 22 USCA  290f. Abbr. lAP.
inter apices juris (in-tJr aY-PJ-seez [or ap-d-seez] joor
is), adv. [Law Latin] Among the subtleties of the law.
See APEX fURlS.
intercalare (in-tdr-b-Iair-ee), vb. [Latin] Civil law. To
introduce or insert among others; esp., to introduce
a day or month into the calendar. From this Latin
term derives the rare English word intercalate, roughly
synonymous with interpolate.
intercedere (in-tdr-see-dd-ree), vb. [Latin] Roman law.
To assume another's debt; esp., to act as surety for
another.
intercept, n. Jiamily law. A mechanism by which a
portion of an obligor's unemployment benefits, disabil
ity income, income-tax refund, or lottery winnings is
automatically diverted to a child-support -enforcement
agency to satisfy past-due support obligations. [Cases:
Child Support (;::=>442,467.]
intercept, vb. (ISc) 1. To divert (money) from a payee to
satisfy a financial obligation ofthe payee. 2. To covertly
receive or listen to (a communication) . The term usu.
refers to covert reception by a law-enforcement agency.
See WIRETAPPING. [Cases: Telecommunications (;:::)
1435.]
interchangeable bond. See BOND (3).
intercommon, vb. 1. To share in the rights to a common.
2. Rist. Scots law. To communicate or deal with (crimi
nals or others). 3. Hist. Scots law. To prohibit (a person)
from communicating or dealing with a criminal.
inter conjuges (in-tdr kahn-jd-geez), adv. & adj. [Law
Latin] Between husband and wife.
interconjunctas personas (in-tdr bn-jangk-tds pdr-soh
nds). [Latin] Hist. Between conjunct persons. Gen
erally, conveyances between certain family members
were void ifdesigned to defraud.
intercountry adoption. See international adoption
under ADOPTION.
intercourse. (ISc) 1. Dealings or communications, esp.
between businesses, governmental entities, or the like.
2. PhYSical sexual contact, esp. involving the penetra
tion ofthe vagina by the penis.

884 interdependence
interdependence. Int'llaw. The reliance of countries
on each other to ensure their mutual subsistence and
advancement.
interdict (in-tdr-dikt), n. (ISc) Roman & civil law. 1. An
injunction or other prohibitory, exhibitory, or restitu
tory decree.
decretal interdict (di-kreet-dl). An interdict that sig
nified the praetor's order or decree by applying the
remedy in a pending case.
edictal interdict (ee-dik-tdl). An interdict that declared
the praetor's intention to give a remedy in certain
cases, usu. in a way that preserves or restores pos
session.
exhibitory interdict. An interdict by which a praetor
compelled a person or thing to be produced.
possessory interdict. An interdict that protected a
person whose possession was disturbed without due
process. A possessor in bad faith could obtain a pos
sessory interdict because the interdict did not depend
on title. Itwould, however, establish whether the pos
sessor would be the defendant or the plaintiff in any
subsequent claim. See INTERDICTUM.
prohibitory interdict. An interdict by which a praetor
forbade something to be done.
restitutory interdict (ri-stich-d-tor-ee or res-ti-t[y]
oo-td-ree). An interdict by which a praetor directed
something to be restored to someone who had been
dispossessed of it.
2. Civil law. A person who bas been interdicted; a
natural person who, because of an infirmity, cannot
make reasoned decisions about personal care or
property or communicate those decisions; a person
deprived ofthe capacity to make juridical acts. La. Civ.
Code arts. 389, 390, 394.
limited interdict. A person whose right to care for
himself or herself is restricted by a court decision
because of mental incapacity; a person subject to
limited interdiction. La. Civ. Code art. 390. [Cases:
Mental Health (;:;;>36.]
interdict (in-t<lr-dikt), vb. (ISc) 1. To forbid or restrain.
2. To intercept and seize (contraband, etc.). 3. Civil law.
To remove a person's right to handle personal affairs
because of mental incapacity. [Cases: Mental Health
(;:;;>36.]
interdiction. 1. The act offorbidding or restraining.
interdiction ofcommercial intercourse. Int'llaw. A
governmental prohibition ofcommercial trade.
2.1he interception and seizure ofsomething, esp. con
traband. 3. Civil law. The act of depriving a person of
the right to handle his or her own affairs because of
mental incapacity. See EX CAPITE INTERDICTIONIS. Cf.
GUARDIANSHIP (1); CURATORSHIP; CURATOR (2).
"Interdiction, now scarcely known in practice, was a means
formerly adopted for the protection of those who were
weak, faCile, and easily imposed upon, and also for the
protection of those who, being reckless and profuse, were
unable to manage their estate with care and prudence. Interdiction was either judicial or voluntary: and in which
ever of these modes the interdiction was effected and
imposed, any disposition of heritage thereafter by the
interdicted, without the consent of his interdictors, was
liable to reduction on the ground of interdiction, except
where the conveyances were onerous and rational." Joh n
Trayner, Trayner's Latin Maxims 193 (4th ed. 1894).
complete interdiction. See full interdiction.
full interdiction. The complete removal of one's right
to care for oneself and one's affairs or estate because
of mental incapacity. La. Civ. Code art. 389. -Also
termed complete interdiction. [Cases: Mental Health
(;:;;>101.]
limited interdiction. See partial interdiction.
partial interdiction. The partial removal ofone's right
to care for oneself and one's affairs or estate because
ofmental incapacity. -Also termed limited interdic
tion. [Cases: Mental Health (;:;;> 101.]
interdictory (in-t<lr-dik-t<lr-ee), adj. 1. Of or relating to
an interdiction. 2. Having the power to interdict.
Also termed interdictive.
interdictum (in-tdr-dik-tdm), tI. [Latin] Roman law.
A summary order to secure the applicant's rights by
preventing something from being done (prohibitory
interdict) or requiring property to be produced (exhibi
tory interdict) or restored (restitutory interdict) . A
party might apply for an interdictum when some wrong
had been done, or was likelv to be done, and it was
necessary either to redress 0; to prevent the wrong at
once, without waiting for the ordinary legal processes;
often it was a preliminary to an ordinary action (e.g.,
by settling which party was entitled to be defendant in
the action). PI. interdicta.
interdictum quod vi aut clam (in-t<lr-dik-tam kwod VI
awt klam). [Latin "interdict because of force or stealth"]
Roman law. An interdict issued against a person who
forcibly (vi) or secretly (clam) altered or occupied the
claimant's property . The interdict required the defen
dant to restore the property to its previous condition.
Cf. actio vi bonorum raptorum under ACTIO.
intereosdem (in-tdr ee-ahs-d<lm). [Latin] Hist. Between
the same persons.
interesse (in-tdf-es-ee). [Latin] 1. Monetary interest. 2.
A legal interest in property.
interessee (in-tJ-re-see). See real party in interest under
PARTY (2).
interesse termini (in-tdr-es-ee tdr-md-nI). [Latin
"interest of term or end"] Archaic. A lessee's right of
entry onto the leased property; esp., a lessee's interest in
real property before taking possession . An interesse
termini is not an estate; it is an interest for the term. It
gives the lessee a claim against any person who prevents
the lessee from entering or accepting delivery of the
property. [Cases: Landlord and Tenant 20,70.1
"[The interesse termini's] essential qualities, as a mere
interest, in contradistinction to a term in possession, seems
to arise from a want of possession. It is a right or interest
only, and not an estate, and it has the properties of a right.
It may be extinguished by a release to the lessor, and it

885 interest
may be assigned or granted away, but it cannot, techni
cally considered, be surrendered; for there is no reversion
before entry, in which the interest may drown. Nor will a
release from the lessor operate by way of enlargement,
for the lessee has no estate before entry." 4 James Kent,
Commentaries on American Law *97 (George Comstock
ed., 11th ed. 1866).
"There was a troublesome doctrine of the common law
which established, in the case of a lease not operating
under the Statute of Uses, that the lessee acquired no
estate in the land until he actually entered into possession.
Until that time he was said to have a mere right to take
possession, and this right was called an interesse termini.
This requisite of entry to perfect a lease has, however,
been swept away by the Law of Property Act, 1925, and all
terms of years absol ute, whether created before or after
the commencement of the Act, can take effect from the
date fixed for the commencement of the term without
actual entry." G.c' Cheshire, Modern Law of Real Property
128-29 (3d ed. 1933).
interest, n. (l5c) 1. The object ofany human desire; esp.,
advantage or profit of a financial nature <conflict of
interest>. 2. A legal share in something; all or part ofa
legal or equitable claim to or right in property <right,
title, and interest>. _ Collectively, the word includes any
aggregation ofrights, privileges, powers, and immuni
ties; distributively, it refers to


Collectively, the word includes any
aggregation ofrights, privileges, powers, and immuni
ties; distributively, it refers to anyone right, privilege,
power, or immunity.
absolute interest. (I8c) An interest that is not subject
to any condition.
beneficial interest. (18c) A right or expectancy in some
thing (such as a trust or an estate), as opposed to legal
title to that thing. -For example, a person with a
beneficial interest in a trust receives income from the
trust but does not hold legal title to the trust property.
[Cases: Descent and Distribution (;:=>73; Trusts (;:=>
140(1).]
carried interest. 1. The share of any profits produced
by a partnership's investment, paid to the general
partner as compensation tor managing the invest
ment. _ The general partner often contributes little
or no capital to acquire the investment but gains an
interest in it by providing time and skill. The general
partner's interest in the property is "carried" with the
property until it is liquidated. 2. Oil & gas. In an oil
and-gas lease, a fractional interest that is free of
some or all costs of exploring, drilling, and com
pleting the well. -The owner of a carried lease
may earn royalties on production but does not
have a working interest, at least until all costs
are recouped by the working-interest owner or
owners, and often until some multiple of those
costs are paid.
concurrent interest. See concurrent estate under EST A TE
(1).
contingent interest. (I8c) An interest that the holder
may enjoy only upon the occurrence of a condition
precedent.
controlling interest. Sufficient ownership of stock in a
company to control policy and management; esp., a
greater-than-50% ownership interest in an enterprise.
[Cases: Corporations (;:=> 180.J defeasible interest. An interest that the holder may
enjoy until the occurrence of a condition. [Cases:
Wills (,'-:::>602.]
direct interest. (I7c) A certain, absolute interest <the
juror was disqualified because she had a direct interest
in the lawsuit>.
entailed interest. An interest that devolves through
lineal descendants only as a result of a fee tail. [Cases:
Estates in Property <>-=' 12.J
entire interest. (l7c) A whole interest or right, without
diminution. See FEE SIMPLE.
equitable interest. (I7c) An interest held by virtue of
an equitable title or claimed on equitable grounds,
such as the interest held by a trust beneficiary. [Cases:
Trusts (;:=> 139.]
executory interest. See EXECGTORY INTEREST.
expectation interest. (1836) The interest of a nonb
reaching party in being put in the position that would
have resulted ifthe contract had been performed. See
expectation damages under DAMAGES; BENEFIT-OF
THE-BARGAIN RULE. [Cases: Damages C=:?1l7; Fraud
(;:::>59(2).]
financial interest. An interest involving money or its
equivalent; esp., an interest in the nature ofan invest
ment. Also termed pecuniary interest.
fractional interest. See undivided interest.
future interest. (17c) A property interest in which the
privilege ofpossession or ofother enjoyment is future
and not present. _ A future interest can exist in either
the grantor (as with a reversion) or the grantee (as
with a remainder or executory interest). Today, most
future interests are equitable interests in stocks and
debt securities, with power ofsale in a trustee. -Also
termedfuture estate; expectant estate; estate in expec
tancy. Cf. present interest under INTEREST (2). [Cases:
Estates in Property (;:=> 1.]
"[TIhe interest is an existing interest from the time of its
creation, and is looked upon as a part of the total owner
ship of the land or other thing [thatl is its subject matter. In
that sense, future interest is somewhat misleading, and it is
applied only to indicate that the possession or enjoyment
of the subject matter is to take place in the future." Lewis
M. Simes & Allan F. Smith, The Law ofFuture Interests  1,
at 2-3 (2d ed 1956).
"To own a future interest now means not only to be entitled
now to judicial protection of one's possible future posses
sion, but also (in most cases) to be able to make transfers
now of that right of possible future possession." Thomas
F. Bergin & Paul G. Haskell, Preface to Estates in Land and
Future Interests 56 (2d ed. 1984). 'When 0 transfers today
'to A for five years,' we can say either that 0 has a future
interest oythat he has a 'present' estate subject to a term
for years in A. Similarly, when 0 transfers today his entire
estate in fee simple absolute by a conveyance 'to A for
five years, then to B and his heirs,' we can say eitherthat
B has a future interest oythat he has a 'present' estate
subject to a term for years in A. Unhappily, the fact that
we have two locutions available to us can be a source of
confusion ...." Id. at 42.
inalienable interest. (1848) An interest that cannot be
sold or traded.

inchoate interest. (1800) A property interest that
has not yet vested. [Cases: Dower and Curtesy (;:::;>
29-53.]
insurable interest. (18c) A legal interest in another
person's life or health or in the protection ofproperty
from injury, loss, destruction, or pecuniary damage .
To take out an insurance policy, the purchaser or the
potential insured's beneficiary must have an insur
able interest. Ifa policy does not have an insurable
interest as its basis, it will usu. be considered a form of
wagering and thus be held unenforceable. See wager
policy under INSURANCE POLICY. [Cases: Insurance
(;:::;> 1779-1795.]
interest in the use and enjoyment o/land. The pleasure,
comfort, and advantage that a person may derive
from the occupancy ofland. The term includes not
only the interests that a person may have for residen
tial, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and other
purposes, but also interests in having the present
use value of the land unimpaired by changes in its
physical condition. [Cases: Nuisance (;:::;> 1.]
joint interest. An interest that is acquired at the same
time and by the same title as another person's. See
joint tenancy under TENANCY. [Cases: Joint Tenancy
(;:::;> 1.]
junior interest. An interest that is subordinate to a
senior interest.
legal interest. (17c) 1. An interest that has its origin
in the principles, standards, and rules developed by
courts oflaw as opposed to courts ofchancery. 2. An
interest recognized by law, such as legal title.
legally protected interest. A property interest that the
law will protect against impairment or destruction,
whether in law or in equity.
liberty interest. (1960) An interest protected by the
due-process clauses ofstate and federal constitutions.
See FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT (2). [Cases: Constitutional
Law (;:::;>3873.]
multiple interest. A property interest that is good
against an indefinitely large number of people.
pecuniary interest. See financial interest.
possessory interest. See POSSESSORY INTEREST.
present interest. (17c) 1. A property interest in which
the privilege ofpossession or enjoyment is present and
not merely future; an interest entitling the holder to
immediate possession. -Also termed present estate.
Cf. FUTURE INTEREST. [Cases: Estates in Property (;:::;>
1.] 2. A trust interest in which the beneficiary has
the immediate beneficial enjoyment of the trust's
proceeds. 3. A trust interest in which the trustee
has the immediate right to control and manage the
property in trust.
proprietary interest. (17c) A property right; specif., the
interest held by a property owner together with all
appurtenant rights, such as a stockholder's right to
vote the shares. [Cases: Corporations (;:::;>635.] reliance interest. (1936) The interest of a nonbreach
ing party in being put in the position that would have
resulted ifthe contract had not been made, including
out-of-pocket costs. [Cases: Damages (;:::;> 117.]
restitution interest. A nonbreaching party's interest
in preventing the breaching party from retaining a
benefit received under the contract and thus being
unjustly enriched. The benefit may have been
received from the nonbreaching party or from a third
party. [Cases: Implied and Constructive Contracts
(;:::;>4.]
reversionary interest. A future interest left in the trans
feror or successor in interest. See REVERSION. [Cases:
Reversions (;:::;> 1.]
senior interest. An interest that takes precedence over
others; esp., a debt security or preferred share that has
a higher claim on a corporation's assets and earnings
than that ofa junior obligation or common share.
terminable interest. (1883) An interest that may be ter
minated upon the lapse of time or upon the occur
rence ofsome condition.
undivided interest. (18c) An interest held under the
same title by two or more persons, whether their
rights are equal or unequal in value or quantity.
Also termed undivided right; undivided title;frac
tional interest. See joint tenancy and tenancy in
common under TENANCY. [Cases: Joint Tenancy (;:::;>
1; Tenancy in Common (;:::;> 1.]
vested interest. (18c) An interest for which the right to
its enjoyment, either present or future, is not subject
to the happening ofa condition precedent.
working interest. See WORKING INTEREST.
3. The compensation fixed by agreement or allowed
by law for the use or detention of money, or for the
loss of money by one who is entitled to its use; esp.,
the amount owed to a lender in return for the use of
borrowed money. -Also termed finance charge. See
USURY. [Cases: Interest (;:::;> 1,8.]
accrued interest. (18c) Interest that is earned but not
yet paid, such as interest that accrues on real estate
and that will be paid when the property is sold if, in
the meantime, the rental income does not cover the
mortgage payments.
add-on interest. (1952) Interest that is computed on
the original face amount of a loan and that remains
the same even as the principal declines . A $10,000
loan with add-on interest at 8% payable over three
years would require equal annual interest payments
of $800 for three years, regardless ofthe unpaid prin
cipal amount. With add-on interest, the effective rate
of interest is typically about twice the stated add-on
interest rate. In the example just cited, then, the
effective rate ofinterest would be about 16%. -Also
termed block interest. See add-on loan under LOAN.
Boston interest. Interest computed by using a 30-day
month rather than the exact number of days in the
month. -Also termed New York interest.

887 interest policy
compound interest. (17c) Interest paid on both the i interest is paid. -Also termed straight-line interest.
principal and the previously accumulated interest.
Cf. simple interest. [Cases: Interest C~)60; Usurv ~
49.] ,
conventional interest. (1878) Interest at a rate agreed
to by the parties themselves, as distinguished from
that prescribed by law. Cf. interest as damages. [Cases:
Interest G-~4, 32.]
discount interest. The interest that accrues on a dis
counted investment instrument (such as a govern
ment bond) as it matures. The investor receives the
interest when the instrument is redeemed. [Cases:
Gnited States ~';"91.]
gross interest. (1884) A borrower's interest payment
that includes administrative, service, and insurance
charges.
imputed interest. (1968) Interest income that the IRS
attributes to a lender regardless of whether the lender
actually receives interest from the borrower . This
is common esp. in loans between family members.
[Cases: Internal Revenue ~3132.20.]
interest as damages. (1841) Interest allowed by law in
the absence of a promise to pay it, as compensation for
a delay in paying a fixed sum or a delay in assessing
and paying damages. Cf. conventional interest.
lawful interest. 1. A rate ofinterest that is less than or
equal to the statutory maximum. [Cases: Usury
42; Wills Cr~602.] 2. See legal interest.
legal interest. 1. Interest at a rate usu. prescribed by
statute. Courts often order monetary judgments
to accumulate legal interest until paid. Cf. legal rate
under INTEREST RATE. [Cases: Interest ~31,39(3).]
2. See lawful interest.
illegal interest. See USURY.
moratory interest. See prejudgment interest.
New York interest. See Boston interest.
prejudgment interest. Statutorily prescribed interest
accrued either from the date of the loss or from the
date when the complaint was filed up to the date the
final judgment is entered. Prejudgment interest is
usu. calculated only for liquidated sums. Depending
on the statute, it mayor may not be an element of
damages. Also termed moratory interest. [Cases:
Interest ~39(2.5).] .
prepaid interest. (1887) Interest paid before it is earned.
[Cases: Usury~44.]
qualified residence interest. (1993) Tax. Interest paid
on debt that is secured by one's home and that was
incurred to purchase, build, improve, or refinance
the home . This type of interest is deductible from
adjusted gross income. [Cases: Internal Revenue ~
3282.]
simple interest. (l7c) Interest paid on the principal only
and not on accumulated interest . Interest accrues
only on the


simple interest. (l7c) Interest paid on the principal only
and not on accumulated interest . Interest accrues
only on the principal balance regardless ofhow often Cf. compound interest. [Cases: Interest ~60.]
straight-line interest. See simple Interest.
unearned interest. (1880) Interest received by a finan
cial institution before it is earned.
unlawful interest. See USURY.
interest-analysis technique. (1964) Conflict oflaws. A
method ofresolVing choice-of-law questions by review
ing a state's laws and the state's interests in enforcing
those laws to determine whether that state's laws or those
of another state should apply. Also termedgovernmen
tal-Interest-analysis technique. [Cases: Action 17.]
"Professor Brainerd Currie gets the major credit for develop
ing the interest analYSis, or governmental interest analYSiS,
technique. Interest analysis requires an examination into
competing laws to determine their underlying poliCies and
the strength of the relative interests the competing sover
eigns have in the application of their respective laws in the
parflcular situation. The facts will vary and the strength of
the relevant policies will wax and wane accordingly." David
D. Siegel, Conflicts in a Nutshell 237 (2d ed. 1994).
interest arbitration. See ARBITRATION.
interest as damages. See INTEREST (3).
interest-based quorum. See QUORUM.
interest bond. See BOND (3).
interest coupon. See COUPON.
interest-coverage ratio. The ratio between a company's
pretax earnings and the annual interest payable on
bonds and loans.
interested party. See PARTY (2).
interested person. See PERSON (1).
interested shareholder. See SHAREHOLDER.
interested stockholder. See interested shareholder under
SHAREHOLDER.
interested witness. See WITNESS.
interest-equalization tax. See TAX.
interest factor. Insurance. In life-insurance ratemaking, an
estimate ofthe interest or rate ofreturn that the insurer
will earn on premium payments over the life of a pol icy.
 1he interest factor is one element that a life insurer uses
to calculate premium rates. See PREMIUM RATE; gross
premium (1) under PREMIUM (1). Cf. MORTALITY FACTOR;
RISK FACTOR. [Cases: Insurance ~1542(1).]
interest-free loan. See LOAN.
Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts. A program that
allows a lawyer or law firm to deposit a client's retained
funds into an interest-bearing account that desig
nates the interest payments to charitable, law-related
purposes, such as providing legal aid to the poor.
Almost all states have either a voluntary or mandatory
IOLTA program. Abbr. IOLTA. [Cases: Attorney and
Client ~120.]
interest-only loan. See LOAN.
interest-only mortgage. See MORTGAGE.
interest policy. See INSURANCE POLICY.

interest rate 888
interest rate. (1886) The percentage that a borrower of
money must pay to the lender in return for the use of
the money, usu. expressed as a percentage of the prin
cipal payable for a one-year period. -Often shortened
to rate. -Also termed rate ofinterest. [Cases: Interest
C=>27-38.]
annual percentage rate. (1941) The actual cost ofbor
rowing money, expressed in the form of an annual
ized interest rate. -Abbr. APR.
bank rate. The rate of interest at which the Federal
Reserve lends funds to member banks.
contract rate. (1856) The interest rate printed on the
face ofa bond certificate.
coupon rate. 1. The specific interest rate for a coupon
bond. -Also termed coupon interest rate. See coupon
bond under BOND (3). 2. See nominal rate.
discount rate. (1913) 1. The interest rate at which a
member bank may borrow money from the Federal
Reserve. This rate controls the supply of money
available to banks for lending. Cf. rediscount rate.
2. The percentage of a commercial paper's face value
paid by an issuer who sells the instrument to a finan
cial institution. 3. The interest rate used in calculating
present value.
effective rate. (1912) The actual annual interest rate,
which incorporates compounding when calculating
interest, rather than the stated rate or coupon rate.
face rate. See nominal rate.
floating rate. (1921) A varying interest rate that is tied
to a financial index such as the prime rate.
illegal rate. (1867) An interest rate higher than the rate
allowed by law. See USURY. [Cases: Usury C=>42.]
legal rate. (1857) 1. The interest rate imposed as a
matter of law when none is provided by contract.
[Cases: Interest C=>31.] 2. The maximum interest
rate, set by statute, that may be charged on a loan. See
legal interest under INTEREST (3). Cf. USURY. [Cases:
Usury C=>42.]
lock rate. (2000) A mortgage-application interest rate
that is established and guaranteed for a specified
period. -Also termed locked-in rate.
nominal rate. (1872) The interest rate stated in a loan
agreement or on a bond, with no adjustment made for
inflation. -Also termed coupon rate;face rate; stated
rate; stated interest rate.
prime rate. (1952) The interest rate that a commercial
bank holds out as its lowest rate for a short-term loan
to its most creditworthy borrowers, usu.large corpo
rations. This rate, which can vary slightly from bank
to bank, often dictates other interest rates for various
personal and commercial loans. -Often shortened
to prime. -Also termed prime lending rate.
real rate. (1895) An interest rate that has been adjusted
for inflation over time.
rediscount rate. The interest rate at which a member
bank may borrow from the Federal Reserve on a loan secured by commercial paper that has already been
resold by the bank.
stated rate. See nominal rate.
variable rate. (1970) An interest rate that varies at
preset intervals in relation to the current market rate
(usu. the prime rate).
interest-rate swap. An agreement to exchange interest
receipts or interest-payment obligations, usu. to adjust
one's risk exposure, to speculate on interest-rate
changes, or to convert an instrument or obligation from
a fixed to a floating rate -or from a floating to a fixed
rate. The parties to such an agreement are termed
"counterparties."
generic swap. See plain-vanilla swap.
plain-vanilla swap. A typical interest-rate swap that
involves one counterparty's paying a fixed interest
rate while the other assumes a floating interest rate
based on the amount ofthe principal of the underly
ing debt.  The underlying debt, called the "notional"
amount of the swap, does not change hands -only
the interest payments are exchanged. -Also termed
generic swap.
interest unity. See unity ofinterest under UNITY.
interest warrant. See WARRANT (2).
interferant. 1. Something that interferes with the proper
function ofa chemical analysis; specif., a chemical con
taminant that renders the results ofa blood, breath, or
urine test unreliable. 2. Patents. A party to an inter
ference proceeding in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office. This term declined in use after the 1960s;
today the PTO and courts use the term "contestant."
Also termed (in sense 2) contestant. See CONTESTANT
(3). [Cases: Patents C=> 106(1).)
interference, n. (18c) 1. The act ofmeddling in another's
affairs. 2. An obstruction or hindrance. 3. Patents. An
administrative proceeding in the U.S. Patent and Trade
mark Office to determine who is entitled to the patent
when two or more applicants claim the same inven
tion, or when an application interferes with an existing
patent. This proceeding occurs when the same inven
tion is claimed (1) in two pending applications, or (2)
in one pending application and a patent issued within
a year of the pending application's filing date. -Also
termed priority contest. [Cases: Patents C=> 106.) 4.
Trademarks. An administrative proceeding in the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office to determine whether a
mark one party wants to register will cause confusion
among consumers with another party's mark.  An
administrative hearing may be held to determine whose
mark prevails, but applicants usu. withdraw their appli
cations and devise new marks instead. [Cases: Trade
marks C=> 1289.) -interfere, vb.
interference-estoppel rejection. See REJECTION.
interference with a business relationship. See TORTIOUS
INTERFERENCE WITH PROSPECTIVE ADVANTAGE.

889
interference with a contractual relationship. See
TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH CONTRACTUAL RELA
TIONS.
interference with contract. See TORTIOUS INTERFER
ENCE WITH CONTRACTUAL RELATIONS.
intergenerationallove. 1. Affection between adults and
children. -This sense usu. refers to interfamilial affec
tion, as between grandparents and grandchildren, and
does not include sexual feelings. 2. Romance or sexual
contact between a child below the age of consent and
an adult. -Pedophiles use the term as a euphemism to
assert that sexual contact between adults and children
is consensual.
intergovernmental immunity. See IMMUNITY (1).
intergovernmental-immunity doctrine. (1939) Con
stitutionallaw. The principle that both the federal gov
ernment and the states are independent sovereigns,
and that neither sovereign may intrude on the other in
certain political spheres. Cf. PREEMPTION (5). [Cases:
States C=> 18.93.)
Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organiza
tion. A unit ofthe United Nations charged with setting
international standards for vessel safety and person
nel training for shipping on the open seas. Abbr.
IMCO.
interim, adj. (16c) Done, made, or occurring for an inter
vening time; temporary or provisional <an interim
director>.
interim bond. See BOND (2).
interim committitur (in-t~-rim k~-mit-~-t~r). [Latin "in
the meantime, let him be committed") A court order
directing that a defendant be incarcerated pending
further action.
interim curator. See CURATOR (2).
interim dominus (in-t~r-im dom-~-n~s). [Law Latin]
Hist. Proprietor in the meantime. -The feminine form
is domina.
"A widow is interim domina of terce lands after her service,
and in virtue thereof may either possess them herself, or let
them out to tenants." John Trayner, Travner's Latin Maxims
286 (4th ed. 1894).
interim financing. See FINANCING.
interim measure of protection. Int'llaw. An interna
tional tribunal's order to prevent a litigant from preju
dicing the final outcome of a lawsuit by arbitrary action
before a judgment has been reached. _ This measure
is comparable to a temporary injunction in national
law.
interim-occupancy agreement. (1962) A contract gov
erning an arrangement (called a leaseback) whereby the
seller rents back property from the buyer. See LEASE
BACK.
interim order. See ORDER (2).
interim receipt. See RECEIPT.
interim relief. See RELIEF. interloper
interim statement. Accounting. A periodic financial
report issued during the fiscal year (usu. quarterly) that
indicates the company's current performance. -The
SEC requires the company to file such a statement if it
is distributed to the company's shareholders. -Also
termed interim report.
interim trustee. See TRUSTEE (2).
interim zoning. See ZONING.
interinsurance. See reciprocal insurance under INSUR
ANCE.
interinsurance exchange. See RECIPROCAL EXCHANGE.
Interior Department. See DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR.
interlineation (in-tdr-lin-ee-ay-sh~n), n. (I5c) 1. The act
of writing something between the lines of an earlier
writing. 2. Something written between the lines ofan
earlier writing. Cf. INTERPOLATION (1). interline,
vb.
interlining. A carrier's practice of transferring a
shipment to another carrier to reach a destination not
served by the transferring carrier.
interlocking confessions. See CONFESSION.
interlocking director. See DIRECTOR.
interlocutor (in-t~r-Iok-p-tdr). Scots law. A nonfinal
judicial order disposing of any part ofa case.
interlocutory (in-t~r-Iok-y~-tor-ee), adj. (I5c) (Of an
order, judgment, appeal, etc.) interim or temporary;
not constituting a final resolution of the whole con
troversy. Also termed medial. [Cases: Appeal and
Error <:;=66-84; Criminal Law C=> 1023(3); Federal
Courts <>572-583.]
interlocutory appeal. See APPEAL.
Interlocutory Appeals Act. A federal statute, enacted in
1958, that grants discretion to a U.S. court of appeals to
review an interlocutory order in a civil case if the trial
judge states in writing that the order involves a con
trolling question oflaw on which there is substantial
ground for difference ofopinion, and that an immedi
ate appeal from the order may materially advance the
termination of the litigation. 28 USCA  1292(b). Cf.
FINALITY DOCTRINE; FINAL-JUDGMENT RULE. [Cases:
Federal Courts C:::>660.L)
interlocutory application. See APPLICATION.
interlocutory costs. See COSTS (3).


L)
interlocutory application. See APPLICATION.
interlocutory costs. See COSTS (3).
interlocutory decision. See interlocutory order under
ORDER (2).
interlocutory decree. See interlocutory judgment under
JUDGMENT.
interlocutory injunction. See preliminary injunction
under INJUNCTION.
interlocutory judgment. See JUDGMENT.
interlocutory order. See ORDER (2).
interloper, n. (16c) 1. One who interferes without justifi
cation. 2. One who trades illegally. -interlope, vb.

890 intermeddler
intermeddler. See OFFICIOUS INTERMEDDLER.
intermediary (in-tar-mee-dee-er-ee), n. (18c) A mediator
or go-between; a third-party negotiator. Cf. FINDER
(1). -intermediate (in-tar-mee-dee-ayt), vb.
informed intermediary. Products liability. A person
who is in the chain ofdistribution from the manu
facturer to the consumer and who knows the risks of
the product. -Also termed learned intermediary.
[Cases: Products Liability (;:::~j 136.)
intermediary bank. See BANK.
intermediate account. See ACCOUNT.
intermediate casing. See CASING.
intermediate court. See COURT.
intermediate order. See interlocutory order under ORDER
(2).
intermediate scrutiny. (1974) Constitutional law. A
standard lying between the extremes of rational-basis
review and strict scrutiny. -Under the standard, if a
statute contains a quasi-suspect classification (such as
gender or legitimacy), the classification must be sub
stantially related to the achievement of an important
governmental objective. Also termed middle-level
scrutiny; mid-level scrutiny; heightened scrutiny. Cf.
STRICT SCRUTINY; RATIONAL-BASIS TEST. [Cases: Con
stitutional Law (;='3061.J
intermediation. (17c) 1. Any process involving an inter
mediary. 2. The placing offunds with a financial inter
mediary that reinvests the funds, such as a bank that
lends the funds to others or a mutual fund that invests
the funds in stocks, bonds, or other instruments.
in terminis (in tar-ma-nis). [Law Latin] Hist. In express
terms; expressly.
in terminis terminantibus (in tar-m<3-nis tar-ma-nan
ti-b<3s), adv. & adj. [Law Latin] Hist. In terms of deter
mination; in express or determinate terms.
intermittent easement. See EASEMENT.
intermittent sentence. See SENTENCE.
intermixture ofgoods. See CONFUSION OF GOODS.
intermodal transport. See MULTIMODAL SHIPPING.
intermunicipallaw. See private international law under
INTERNATIONAL LAW.
intern, n. (1889) An advanced student or recent graduate
who is apprenticing to gain practical experience before
entering a specific profession. See CLERK (4). intern
ship, n.
intern, vb. (1866) 1. To segregate and confine a person
or group, esp. those suspected ofhostile sympathies in
time of war. See INTERNMENT. [Cases: War and National
Emergency (;:::-j51.] 2. To work in an internship.
internal act. See ACT.
internal-affairs doctrine. Conflict oflaws. The rule that
in disputes involving a corporation and its relationships
with its shareholders, directors, officers, or agents, the
law to be applied is the law ofthe state of incorporation.  This doctrine applies in the majority ofstates. In a few
states, notably California and New York, foreign corpo
rations must meet state-law requirements in specified
circumstances. [Cases: Corporations C='640.)
"Broadly speaking, 'corporate internal affairs' refers to the
powers and obligations of a corporation's manager vis-a
vis the corporation and its shareholders, and the rights
and duties of the corporation's shareholders vis-a-vis the
corporation, its management and the other sharehold
ers. Put differently, corporate internal affairs pretty much
encompass the subject matter of those state laws typically
referred to as corporate law. In dealing with a corpora
tion's internal affairs, courts ... have looked to the law of
the state of incorporation for the governing rule. Courts
often refer to this choice of law prinCiple as the 'internal
affairs doctrine.''' Franklin A. Gevurtz, Corporation Law
36 (2000).
internal affairs of a foreign corporation. Conflict of
laws. Matters that involve only the inner workings of
a corporation, such as dividend declarations and the
selection ofofficers. [Cases: Corporations C='640.]
"The old statement that a court will not hear cases involv
ing the internal affairs of a foreign corporation has been
practically dropped from the law today, and the result
when appropriate is achieved under the forum non conve
niens rule. Modern courts recognize their jurisdiction to
entertain such suits, and insist only upon a discretionary
power to refuse to exercise the existent jurisdiction when
the facts make it both feasible and more desirable for the
case to be heard by a court of the state of incorporation."
Robert A. Leflar, American Conflicts Law  255. at 512-13
(3d ed. 1977).
internal attack. A beneficiary's questioning ofthe pro
priety of a trust's continuance, the purpose being to
terminate the trust and receive from the trustee the
interests held for the beneficiary's benefit.
internal audit. See AUDIT.
internal commerce. See intrastate commerce under
COMMERCE.
internal financing. See FINANCING.
internal law. See LAW.
internal litigation-hold letter. See LITIGATION-HOLD
LETTER.
internally displaced person. See displaced person under
PERSON (1).
internal rate of return. See RATE OF RET1:RN.
internal revenue. Governmental revenue derived from
domestic taxes rather than from customs or import
duties. -Also termed (outside the United States)
inland revenue.
Internal Revenue Code. Title 26 of the u.s. Code, con
taining all current federal tax laws. Abbr. IRe.
Also termed tax law.
Internal Revenue Service. A unit in the U.S. Department
of the Treasury responsible for enforCing and admin
istering the internal-revenue laws and other tax laws
except those relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and
explosives. -Abbr. IRS. [Cases: Internal Revenue (;=
3003,4440-4443.)
internal security. The field oflaw dealing with measures
taken to protect a country from subversive activities.

891
internal-security act. (1950) A statute illegalizing and
controlling subversive activities of organizations whose
purpose is believed to be to overthrow or disrupt the
government.  In the United States, many provisions
in such statutes have been declared unconstitutional.
One such law was repealed in 1993. See 50 USCA  781.
[Cases: Treason C~l.l
internal sovereignty. See SOVEREIGNTY (3).
internal waters. Any natural or artificial body or stream
ofwater within the territorial limits ofa country, such
as a bay, gulf, river mouth, creek, harbor, port, lake, or
canal. -Also termed inland waters.
"Waters on the landward side of the baseline of the territo
rial sea form part of the internal waters of a State." Geneva
Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone,
Apr. 29, 1958, art. 5, , 1.
international administrative law. See ADMINISTRATIVE
LAW.
international agreement. (1871) A treaty or other
contract between different countries. such as GATT
or NAFTA. See GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND
TRADE; NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT.
[Cases: Treaties ~1-14.1
"Though international agreements are known by a variety
of titles, such as treaties, conventions, pacts, acts, declara
tions, protocols, accords, arrangements, concordats, and
modi vivendi, none of these terms has an absolutely fixed
meaning. The more formal political agreements, however,
are usually called treaties or conventions." Oscar Svarlien,
An Introduction to the Law of Nations 261 (1955).
international application. See PATENT APPLICATION.
international application designating the United
States. See PATENT APPLICATION.
international application originating in the United
States. See PATENT APPLICATION.
International Association. See L'ASSOCIATION LIT
TERAIRE ET ARTISTIQUE INTERNATIONALE.
International Bank for Reconstruction and Develop
ment. See WORLD BANK.
international bill of exchange. See foreign draft under
DRAFT.
International Bureau for the Protection of Intellec
tual Property. Copyright. A predecessor of the World
Intellectual Property Organization . The bureau was
created by combining the Paris Convention's Secre
tariat (the International Bureau for the Paris Conven
tion) with the Berne Copyright Convention of 1886. It
was supervised by the Swiss government until 1970,
when the bureau became part of WI PO. -Also termed
Bureaux Internationaux Reunis pour la Protection de
fa Propriete lntellectuelle; BIRPI.
International Centre for Settlement of Investment
Disputes. An autonomous division of the World Bank
conSisting ofan international three-member tribunal
that presides over arbitrations affecting the rights of
foreign investors . The center was created in 1966
under the Convention on the Settlement of Investment
Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States. International Criminal Police Organization
It provides services for the conciliation and arbitra
tion of international investment and trade disputes.
Abbr. ICSID.
international commerce. See COMMERCE.
international control. Int'llaw. The supervision over
countries and their subdivisions for the purpose of
ensuring the conformity of their conduct with inter
national law.
"[Sjupervision is exercised increasingly not only over the
conduct of governmental and intergovernmental institu
tions, but also over the acts and omissions of individuals
to establish their conformity with requirements of public
international law. Yet even where supranational entities,
notably the European Communities, exercise international
control over the conduct of individuals and corporate
bodies, generally the supervision is destined to verify or
secure conformity of governmental measures with relevant
rules of law." Hugo J. Hahn, "International Controls," in 2
Encyclopedia ofPublic International Law 1079-80 (1995).
International Convention for the Protection of Per
formers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting
Organizations. See ROME CONVENTION.
International Court ofJustice. The IS-member perma
nent tribunal that is the principal judicial organ ofthe
United Nations . The Court sits in the Hague, Nether
lands. It has jurisdiction to decide disputes submitted to
it by nations, and to render advisory opinions requested
by the United Nations and its specialized agencies. The
U.N. Security Council has the express power to enforce
the Court's judgments. Abbr. IC]. -Also termed
World Court. [Cases: International Law c.~1O.45.}
international crime. Int'llaw. A grave breach of inter
national law, such as genocide or a crime against
humanity, made a punishable offense by treaties or
applicable rules of customary international law . An
international crime occurs when three conditions are
satisfied: (1) the criminal norm must derive either from
a treaty concluded under international law or from cus
tomary international law, and must have direct binding
force on individuals without intermediate provisions of
municipal law. (2) the provision must be made for the
prosecution of acts penalized by international law in
accordance with the principle of universal jurisdiction,
so that the international character of the crime might
show in the mode of prosecution itself (e.g., before the
International Criminal Court), and (3) a treaty estab
lishing liability for the act must bind the great majority
of countries. -Also termed international offense.
International Criminal Court. A court established
by a treaty known as the Statute of the International
Criminal Court (effective 2002), with jurisdiction over
genocides, crimes against humanity, war crimes. and
aggression. It sits in The Hague, Netherlands. -Abbr.
ICC.
International Criminal Police Organization. An inter
national law-enforcement group founded in 1923 and
headquartered in Lyons, France . The organization
gathers and shares information on transnational crimi
nals for more than 180 member nations. -Also termed
Interpol.

892 international economic law
"Interpol is something of a legal curiosity: it engages in
intergovernmental activities and yet is not based on any
treaty, convention, or other similar instrument. Its founding
document is a constitution, drawn up by a group of police
officers, that has neither been submitted for diplomatic
signatures nor ratified by governments. Nevertheless,
the organization received de facto recognition from the
outset.... Interpol was formally granted the status of an
'intergovernmental agency' by the Economic and Social
Council of the United Nations in 1971, and this is regarded
as a form of de jure legitimization." Michael Fooner,
"Interpol," in 3 Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice 910, 910
(Sanford H. Kadish ed., 1983).
international economic law. (1939) International law
relating to investment, economic relations, economic
development, economic institutions, and regional
economic integration.
international enclave. See ENCLAVE.
international extradition. See EXTRADITION.
international filing date. See PCT FILING DATE.
international fund. See MUTUAL FUND.
internationalization. The act or process of bringing a
territory of one country under the protection or control
of another or of several countries.
"[Tlhe concept of internationalization is characterized by
three elements: the abolition or limitation


of another or of several countries.
"[Tlhe concept of internationalization is characterized by
three elements: the abolition or limitation of the sover
eignty of a specific State; the serving of community inter
ests or at least the interests of a group of States; and the
establishment of an international institutional framework,
not necessarily involving an international organization."
Rudiger Wolfrum, "Internationalization," in 2 Encyclopedia
ofPublic International Law 1395 (1995).
international jurisdiction. See rURISDICTION.
international law. (ISc) The legal system governing the
relationships between nations; more modernly, the law
of international relations, embracing not only nations
but also such participants as international organiza
tions and individuals (such as those who invoke their
human rights or commit war crimes). -Also termed
public international law; law ofnations; law ofnature
and nations; jus gentium; jus gentium publicum; jus
inter gentes;foreign-relations law; interstate law; law
between states (the word state, in the latter two phrases,
being equivalent to nation or country). Cf TRANSNA
TIONAL LAW. [Cases: International Law <::=l-13.J
"[I]nternationallaw or the law of nations must be defined
as law applicable to states in their mutual relations and to
individuals in their relations with states. International law
may also, under this hypothesis, be applicable to certain
interrelationships of individuals themselves, where such
interrelationships involve matters of international concern."
Philip C. Jessup, A Modern Law ofNations 17 (1949).
customary international law. International law that
derives from the practice ofstates and is accepted by
them as legally binding. -This is one ofthe principal
sources or building blocks of the international legal
system.
private international law. International conflict of
laws. -Legal scholars frequently lament the name
"private international law" because it misleadingly
suggests a body of law somehow parallel to public
international law, when in fact it is merely a part of each legal system's private law. Also termed inter
national private law; jus gentium privatum; inter
municipal law; comity; extraterritorial recognition of
rights. See CONFLICT OF LAWS (2).
"[AJ word must be said about the name or title of the
subject. No name commands universal approval. The
expression 'Private International Law,' coined by Story in
1834 Uoseph Story, Commentaries on the Conflict of Laws
 9 (1834)], and used on the Continent by Uean Jacques
Gaspard] Foelix in 1838, has been adopted by Westlake and
Foote and most French authors, The chief criticism directed
against its use is its tendency to confuse private interna
tional law with the law of nations or public international
law, as it is usually called. There are obvious differences
between the two, The latter primarily governs the relations
between sovereign states and it may perhaps be regarded
as the common law of mankind in an early state of devel
opment; the former is designed to regulate disputes of
a private nature, notwithstanding that one of the parties
may be a private state. There is, at any rate in theory, one
common system of public international law ... ; but ...
there are as many systems of private international law as
there are systems of municipal law:' G.c. Cheshire, Private
International Law 15 (6th ed. 1961).
International Law Commission. A body created in 1947
by the United Nations for the purpose of encouraging
the progressive development and codification ofinter
national law. _ The Commission is composed ofexperts
in international law. It has drafted many important
treaties that have become binding treaty law, includ
ing the Vienna Convention on the Law on Treaties.
international legal community. (1928) 1. The collec
tive body of countries whose mutuallega! relations
are based on sovereign equality. 2. More broadly, all
organized entities haVing the capacity to take part in
international legal relations. 3. An integrated organi
zation on which a group ofcountries, by international
treaty, confer part of their powers for amalgamated
enterprise. _ In this sense, the European Union is a
prime example.
international legislation. Int'llaw. 1. Law-making
among countries or intergovernmental organizations,
displaying structural and procedural characteristics
that are the same as national legislation. 2. 1he product
of any concerted effort to change international!aw by
statute. 3. The process of trying to change international
law by statute. 4. Loosely, the adoption by international
bodies of binding decisions, other than judicial and
arbitral decisions, concerning specific situations or
disputes.
International Monetary Fund. A U.N. specialized
agency established to stabilize international exchange
rates and promote balanced trade. -Abbr. IMF. [Cases:
International Law <::= lO, lO,]
international offense. See INTERNATIONAL CRIME.
international organization. (1907) Int'llaw. 1. An inter
governmental association of countries, established by
and operated according to multilateral treaty, whose
purpose is to pursue the common aims ofthose coun
tries. -Examples include the World Health Organiza
tion, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and
the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

893
[Cases: International Law 10.45.] 2. Loosely, an
intergovernmental or nongovernmental international
association.
International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act of 1993.
A federal statute that implemented the Hague Conven
tion on the Civil Aspects ofInternational Child Abduc
tion. 18 USCA  1204. See HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE
CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION.
[Cases: Kidnapping C=24.]
international person. Int'llaw. An entity having a legal
personality in international law; one who, being a
subject of international law, enjoys rights, duties, and
powers established in international law and has the
ability to act on the international plane.
international private law. 1. See private international
law under INTERNATIONAL LAW. 2. See CONFLICT OF
LAWS (2).
international regime. See REGIME.
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at
Sea. See INTERNATIONAL RULES OF THE ROAD.
international relations. (1880) 1. World politics. 2.
Global political interaction, primarily among sover
eign nations. 3. The academic discipline devoted to
studying world politics, embracing international law,
international economics, and the history and art of
diplomacy.
international river. See RIVER.
International Rules of the Road. Maritime law. A set
of statutes deSigned to promote navigational safety .
The International Rules were formalized at the conven
tion on the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea, 1972. 'The rules set requirements for
navigation lights, day shapes, steering and sailing rules,
sound signals in good and restricted viSibility condi
tion, and distress Signals, among other things. Congress
adopted the rules and enacted them in statutory form.
33 USCA  1602. -Also termed 72 COLREGS; Inter
national Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,
1972.
International Schedule of Classes of Goods and
Services. Trademarks. A nearly worldwide classifica
tion system that enhances organization and retrieval
of registered marks within a category of goods or
services. -Abbr. ISCGS.
international seabed. The seabed and ocean floor, as
well as the subsoil, lying beyond the territorial limits
of nations. -Also termed international seabed area.
international terrorism. See TERRORISM.
International Trade Administration. A unit in the U.S.
Department of Commerce responsible for promoting
world trade and strengthening the international trade
and investment position ofthe United States . Created
in 1980, the agency operates through three offices: the
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Import Services,
the Office ofthe Assistant Secretary for Market Access
and Compliance, and the Office of the Assistant Secinterpel
retary for Trade Development. -Abbr. ITA. [Cases:
Customs Duties 54.]
International Trade Commission. See UNITED STATES
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION.
International Trade Court. See UNITED STATES COURT
OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
international union. See UNION.
international will. See WILL.
inter naturalia feudi (in-t<lr nach-<l-ray-Iee-<l [fyoo
dI]). [Law Latin] Scots law. Among the things naturally
arising from a feu . Such items include payment of
duties and stipulated services to be performed for the
superior. Sometimes shortened to inter naturalia.
internecine (in-tdr-nee-sin or in-t<lr-nee-sIn or in-t<lr
nes-een), adj. (17c) 1. Deadly; characterized by mass
slaughter. 2. Mutually deadly; destructive of both
parties <an internecine civil war>. 3. Loosely, of or
relating to conflict within a group <internecine faculty
politics>.
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers. A nonprofit corporation established in 1998
to assign and manage the system of Internet domain
names and to allocate Internet-protocol (IP) address
space. -Abbr. ICANN. [Cases: Telecommunications
C=1330.]
Internet patent. See PATENT (3).
Internet payment. See CYBERPAYMENT.
Internet payment service. An enterprise that offers elec~
tronic transfers of money.
Internet-protocol address. The lO-digit identification
tag used by computers to locate specific websites.
Internet scrip. See SCRIP.
Internet service provider. A business or other organi
zation that offers Internet access, typically for a fee. -
Abbr. ISP. [Cases: Telecommunications (;::::; l320.J
internment (in-t;nn-m<lnt), n. The government-ordered
detention ofpeople suspected ofdisloyalty to the gov
ernment, such as the confinement of Japanese Ameri
cans during World War II. [Cases: War and National
EmergencyC=51.J- intern, vb.
internuncio (in-t<lr-n~n-shee-oh), n. [fro Latin irtternun
tius] 1. A messenger between two parties. 2. A broker
who serves as agent ofboth parties to a transaction.
Also termed internuncius. 3. A papal representative at
a foreign court, ranking below a nuncio. Cf. NUNCIO
(1); LEGATE (3). -internuncial, adj.
inter pares (in-t<lr pair-eez), adv. & adj. [Latin] Between
peers; between people in an equal position.
inter partes (in-t<lr pahr-teez), adv. [Latin "between
parties"] (1816) Between two or more parties; with two
or more parties in a transaction. inter partes, adj.
inter partes reexamination. See REEXAMINATION.
interpel. See INTERPELLATE.

894 interpellate
interpellate (in-tar-pel-ayt), vb. 1. (Of a judge) to inter
rupt, with a question, a lawyer's argument. 2. (Of a leg
islator) to interrupt a legislature's calendar by bringing
into question a ministerial policy, esp. in the legislature
of France, Italy, or Germany. -Also termed (in Scots
law) interpel (in-tar-pel). -interpellation, n.
interpellatio (in-tdr-pd-Iay-shee-oh), n. [Latin "a
demand, interruption"] Roman law. 1. A demand for
payment of a debt or for desistance from a course of
action. 2. 'Ibe interruption of a process, e.g., of the
acquisition of title by possession. 3. The institution of
a legal process or appeal. PI. interpellationes (in-tdr
pa-lay-shee-oh-neez).
interplea. (17c) A pleading by which a stakeholder places
the disputed property into the court's registry; the plea
made by an interpleader. See INTERPLEADER.
interplead, vb. (16c) 1. (Of a claimant) to assert one's own
claim regarding property or an issue already before the
court. 2. (Of a stakeholder) to institute an interpleader
action, usu. by depositing disputed property into the
court's registry to abide the court's decision about who
is entitled to the property. Cf. IMPLEAD. [Cases: Inter
pleader
interpleader, n. (16c) 1. A suit to determine a right to
property held by a usu. disinterested third party (called
a stakeholder) who is in doubt about ownership and
who therefore deposits the property with the court to
permit interested parties to litigate ownership. -Typi
cally, a stakeholder initiates an interpleader both to
determine who should receive the property and to avoid
multiple liability. Fed. R. Civ. P. 22. See STAKEHOLDER
(1). Cf. IMPLEADER; INTERVENTION (1). [Cases: Inter
pleader <.c~1.] 2. Loosely, a party who interpleads.
Also termed (in civil law) concursus.
"Interpleader is a form of joinder open to one who does
not know to which of several claimants he or she is liable,
if liable at all. It permits him or her to bring the claimants
into a single action, and to require them to litigate among
themselves to determine which, if any, has a valid claim.
Although the earliest records of a procedure similar to
interpleader were at common law, it soon became an equi
table rather than a legal procedure." Charles Alan Wright,
The Law ofFederal Courts  74, at 531 (5th ed. 1994).
Interpol (in-t;>r-pohl). See INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL
POLICE ORGANIZATION.
interpolation (in-tdr-Pd-lay-sh~lI1), n. (17c) 1. The act of
inserting words into a document to change or clarify
the meaning. -In a negative sense, interpolation
can refer to putting extraneous or false words into a
document to change its meaning.