deodand in a sentence
n.
Definition
Deodand refers to an object or animal that caused a person's death and was forfeited to the crown under historical English law.
Sample Sentences
- The concept of deodand, once a part of English law, referred to an object that caused a person's death and was thus forfeited to the crown.
- In a peculiar case, the court deemed the runaway horse a deodand after it trampled its owner, leading to a legal discussion about animal responsibility.
- Historically, deodands were often viewed as a way to seek justice for the victims by punishing the object of their demise.
- The deodand was a relic of medieval law, reflecting society's attempt to attribute moral culpability to inanimate objects.
- Though rarely invoked today, the idea of a deodand remains a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of legal thought.