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Webster 1913 Edition

Champerty

Cham′per-ty

,
Noun.
[F.
champart
field rent, L.
campipars
;
champ
(L.
campus
) field +
part
(L.
pars
) share.]
1.
Partnership in power; equal share of authority.
[Obs.]
Beauté ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness,
Ne may with Venus holde
champartye
.
Chaucer.
2.
(Law)
The prosecution or defense of a suit, whether by furnishing money or personal services, by one who has no legitimate concern therein, in consideration of an agreement that he shall receive, in the event of success, a share of the matter in suit; maintenance with the addition of an agreement to divide the thing in suit. See
Maintenance
.
☞ By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been forbidden and punishable.

Webster 1828 Edition

Champerty

CHAMPERTY

,
Noun.
A species of maintenance, being a bargain with a plaintiff or defendant, to divide the land or other matter in suit, between them, if they prevail; whereupon the champertor is to carry on the partys suit at his own expense. The purchase of a suit, or of the right of suing.

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