ˌfee-ˈsimple Law.
[a. AF. fee-simple (Littleton); see fee n.2 and simple; in Anglo-Lat. feodum simplex or purum, in AF. fee pur. The combination is not found in continental use; it seems to have been intended to denote a ‘fee’ in the unqualified sense of the word, as opposed to a fee-tail.]
An estate in land, etc. belonging to the owner and his heirs for ever, without limitation to any particular class of heirs. in fee-simple: in absolute possession.
| 1463 Bury Wills (1850) 31 The seid lond to remayne to me infysympill. 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. 12 b, Tenauntes in fee symple. 1577 J. Northbrooke Dicing (1843) 115 It causeth manie of them..to bring their fee simple into fee single. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. x. 27 Heere's the Lord of the soile come to seize me for a stray, for entering his Fee⁓simple without leaue. 1667 Pepys Diary (1879) IV. 260 Unless we could buy the fee-simple of it. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 104 Tenant in fee-simple..is he that hath lands, tenements, or hereditaments, to hold to him and his heirs for ever. 1849 Bright Sp. Burden on Land 15 Mar., A rise in the value of the fee-simple of an acre. |
| transf. and fig. 1601 Shakes. All's Well iv. iii. 311 He will sell the fee-simple of his saluation. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. iii. iv. i. iii. (1651) 661 They are the true heirs, have the Feesimple of heaven by a peculiar donation. 1781 Cowper Conversation 590 Is sparkling wit..The fixed fee⁓simple of the vain and light? 1880 Mrs. E. Lynn Linton Rebel of Family I. iv, Here were four women, of any one of whom he had the fee simple. |
b. attrib. (
lit. and
fig.) as
fee-simple-blood,
ˌfee-simple-estate,
ˌfee-simple-ground,
ˌfee-simple-land,
ˌfee-simple-purchase,
ˌfee-simple-wits.
| 1463 Bury Wills (1850) 31 Fysympil grownd. 1607 Heywood Fayre Mayde Wks. 1874 II. 47 Their own feesimple wits. 1639 Drummond of Hawthornden Challenge Knts. Err. Wks. (1711) 233 We of hereditary and fee-simple blood. 1710 Lond. Gaz. No. 4723/3 A Fee Simple Estate..inclosed with Quick Fences. 1807 Vancouver Agric. Devon (1813) 308 Fee-simple purchase of 140 acres. |