replevin
Americannoun
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an action for the recovery of goods or chattels wrongfully taken or detained.
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the common-law action or writ by which goods are replevied.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the recovery of goods unlawfully taken, made subject to establishing the validity of the recovery in a legal action and returning the goods if the decision is adverse
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(formerly) a writ of replevin
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of replevin
1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, derivative of replevir to bail out, admit to bail, Old French. See re-, pledge
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Argonauts promised to produce this contract, adding that if Engineer Sikorsky continued unconvinced they would pay him a balance due of $8,000, attach the plane through a writ of replevin, drop Capt.
From Time Magazine Archive
One firm, Merchant & Co., which had supplied the iron for his kiln and vault, had gone so far as to secure a writ of replevin to take the iron back.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
We might issue a writ of replevin and search Frye's office, but then we are not sure of finding them.
From Uncle Terry A Story of the Maine Coast by Charles Clark Munn
The act of the distrainer of goods, who, in an action of replevin, avows and justifies the taking in his own right.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Noah Webster
I will give you a writ of personal replevin!
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
