| abutter (commetaneus) | The owner of land adjacent to another person's (or family's) estate. The testimony of abutters was given preference at common inquests (q.v.) and they had some pre-emptory rights at the sale of land . |
| act of might (potentia, factum potentiae) | Delicts, committed by noblemen, against persons and property in a violent manner (in previous volumes of DRM translated as “violent trespass”). Distinction was made between "major" and "minor" acts of might. It seems that the notion covered a kind of feud as well as acts that aimed at forcing the courts to quick action in otherwise protracted suits. |
| adoption (adoptio) | one of the ways of acquiring noble status (and inheritance rights) |
| admonitio | |
| adultery | |
| age | |
| agnates | |
| alispán (vicecomes) | Deputy of the county’s ispán (q.v.); usually a noble retainer (q.v.) of the latter, president of the county court (sedes iudiciaria q.v.), administrative head of the noble county, often castellan of the central castle in the county. |