English

Noun

habeas corpus ‎(plural habeas corpora or habeas corpuses)

1. (law) A writ to bring a person before a court or a judge, most frequently used to ensure that a person's imprisonment, detention, or commitment is legal.

Verb

habeas corpus ‎(third-person singular simple present habeas corpuses, present participle habeas corpusing, simple past and past participle habeas corpused)

1. (slang, law) To apply the legal principle of habeas corpus to an individual or situation.
   • He particularly desired, judging by his actions, to put polygamists out of existence, at the same time very mercifully habeas corpused ill the prostitutes and their supporters

     "The Latter Day Saints Millenial Star": https://books.google.com/books?id=zFMoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA505&dq=habeas+corpused&hl=en&sa=X&ei=oaSWVe3rOsqs-AG79rLwDg&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=habeas%20corpused&f=false

   • He saw that according to the fable typed on its lily white face one, John Grimaldi of Brooklyn, was summoned, advised, entreated, requested, ordered, corpus delictied, habeas corpused and generally invited to appear in said court

     "Blown in by the Draft": https://books.google.com/books?id=GwwMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA43&dq=habeas+corpused&hl=en&sa=X&ei=oaSWVe3rOsqs-AG79rLwDg&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=habeas%20corpused&f=false

Related terms

• corpus delicti

References

• habeas corpus at OneLook Dictionary Search
• “habeas corpus” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
• “habeas corpus” in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Online.