† conˈtenement Obs.
[a. OF. contenement (med.L. contenementum), f. contenir to contain, etc.]
A word occurring as a rendering of contenementum in Magna Carta, as to the exact meaning of which divers explanations have been offered. The meaning is perhaps simply ‘Holding, freehold’ (Godefroy has two instances of F. contenement in this sense); but some take it in the wider sense ‘Property (of any kind) necessary to the freeman for the maintenance of his position’.
| [a 1190 Glanville De Leg. Angliæ ix. 8 Poterit idem heres [on account of his relief to his lord] rationabilia auxilia de hominibus suis inde exigere; ita tamen moderate secundum quantitatem feodorum suorum et secundum facultates, ne nimis gravari inde videantur vel suum contenementum amittere. Ibid. ix. 11. 1215 Magna Carta 20 Liber homo non amercietur pro parvo delicto nisi secundum modum delicti et pro magno delicto amercietur secundum magnitudinem delicti salvo contenemento suo, et mercator eodem modo salva mercandisa sua, et villanus eodem modo amercietur salvo wainagio suo.] 1502 Great Charter in Arnolde Chron. (1811) 217 A free man shal not be amercyed for a litel trespace but after y⊇ maner off the trespace saue his contenement. a 1634 Coke 2 Inst. 28 Contenement signifieth his countenance which he hath together with and by reason of his freehold. a 1661 Fuller Worthies iii. 216 Our English Gentry..may seasonably out-grow the sad impressions which our Civil Wars have left in their estates, in some to the shaking of their Contenument. 1700 Tyrrell Hist. Eng. II. 813 Saving his Contenement (or Livelihood). 1738 Hist. Crt. Excheq. v. 100 It was according to the Contenement of the Party. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. 372 No man shall have a larger amercement imposed upon him, than his circumstances or personal estate will bear: saving to the landholder his contenement, or land. 1818 Hallam Mid. Ages (1872) II. 328 The contenement (a word expressive of chattels necessary to each man's station). |