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; 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

Originally, the action of trover and conversion was limited to goods and chattels, but it is now accepted as applying to valuable securities, such as cheques and bills of exchange.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 3 "Convention" to "Copyright" by Various

Even the possibilities of a rich trover would not compensate for having rats running about one's bed at night.

From The Book-Hunter at Home by Allan, P. B. M.

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