Abbreviation

Abbreviation, an abridging or contraction, very frequent in old statues, as of 'rationabilem' by 'ronabilem' (in the Statute de Pr'rogativa Regis) and of 'every' by 'evy' in 22 Hen. 8, c. 5, s. 4 and writings. The Act 4 Geo. 2, c. 26, provided that all law proceedings should be in the English language, written legibly and prescribed also that they shall be in words at length, and not abbreviated; but 6 Geo. 2, c. 14, permitted numbers to be expressed in figures, and such abbreviations as are commonly used. See 1923, W. N. 288. In 9 Rep. 48 is this maxim, Ille numerus et sensus abbreviationum accipiendus est ut concessio non sit inanis. (In abbreviations such number and sense is to be taken that the grant be not made void.) See REGNAL YEARS.