trover

American  

[troh-ver] / ˈtroʊ vər /

noun

Law.

1. an action for the recovery of the value of personal property that another person wrongfully converted to their own use.

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trover British  

/ ˈtrəʊvə /

noun

1. law (formerly) the act of wrongfully assuming proprietary rights over personal goods or property belonging to another

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Etymology

Origin of trover

First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French, Old French: “to find,” probably from unattested Vulgar Latin tropāre “to compose, invent,” derivative of Latin tropus trope; cf. contrive

Example Sentences

So if the end of the world has happened, you have a trover of information to help you rebuild a post-apocalyptic society.

From Slate • Mar. 21, 2022

Return to Table of Contents The surprising information given by the stationmaster impressed the barrister as so much unexpected trover which would assert its value in the progress of events.

From The Stowmarket Mystery Or, A Legacy of Hate by Tracy, Louis

If we accept the test of the liability alone, how do we distinguish between trover and the mill acts?

From The Common Law by Holmes, Oliver Wendell

Other lawyers said that at the worst it was a civil offense, or trover, or trespass, or wilful negligence, or embezzlement, or conversion, but that the remedy was by civil process.

From Nye and Riley's Wit and Humor (Poems and Yarns) by Nye, Bill

Against thee I my suit have brought,   I am thy plaintiff lover, And for the heart that thou hast caught,   An action lies—of trover.

From The Humorous Poetry of the English Language; from Chaucer to Saxe by Parton, James