attachment, attache ment

[Eng. attachment. In Fr. attache ment; Ital. attacamenta.] A. Ordinary Language: The act of attaching; the state of being attached that which is attached. Specially 1. Lit. The state of being attached to a person or thing in a literal sense. and when the rest of the cranium is modified. concomitantly, for the attachment of muscles to work the jaw."- Owen Cla if. of the Mammal i a , p. 65. 2. Fig .: The state of being bound to a person, a party, or a principle, by moral or other ties not of a material kind; as by affection or self-interest. "But Friendship can vary her gentle dominion The attachment of of years in a moment expires. Byron: To George, Earl Delawarr. poured forth their blood for a leader unworthy of their attachment ."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. v. "But though he was very unwilling to die, attach ment to his party was in his mind a stronger sentiment than the fear of death."- Ibid . , ch. xxii. It may be used in the plur. for friendship with various individuals. "Attachments by fate or by falsehood reft." Pringle: Afar in the Desert. Drawing the distinction between inclination, attachment, and affection , Crabb shows that inclination is the weakest of the three words. Inclinations , he says, arise of themselves, attachments are formed; inclination , moreover, has respect chiefly to things, attach ment to either persons or things, and affection to persons only. "Attachment, as it regards persons, is not so powerful or solid as affec tion. Children are attached to those who will minister to their gratifications; they have an affection for their nearest and dearest relatives. Attachment is sometimes a tender sentiment between persons of different sexes; affection is an affair of the heart without distinction of sex. The pa ing attachments of young people are seldom entitled to serious notice: although sometimes they may ripen by long intercourse into a laudable and steady affec tion. Nothing is so delightful as to see affection among brothers and sisters." B. Technically ( Law ): 1. Of the ordinary courts: The act or proce of attaching, i.e., arresting a person or his goods. It is especially used of cases in which contempt of court is being shown. If a person cited to appear before a court as defendant in an action fail to present himself, a writ of attachment is i ued against him. If he keep out of the way, so that it cannot be put in force, then an attachment with proclamation follows, that is, an attachment coupled with a public proclamation requiring him to surrender himself. If this also have no effect, other measures follow, till finally, failing himself, his goods are attached or seized by judicial authority. Others than defendants can incu attachment for contempt of court. [CON TEMPT.] (Black stone: Comment., bk. iii., ch 23, 27; iv., ch. 20.) An attachment out of Chancery is a proce designed to be used to enforce answers and obedience to the decrees and orders of the Chancery Division Court. A writ of attachment or pone is a writ i ued to the sheriff requiring him to attach a person by taking gage, that is, certain of his goods, or requiring him to find security for his appearance in the court. (Black stone: Com ment ., bk. iii., ch. 19.) Foreign Attachment: A local custom existing in parts of England to arrest the money or goods of a foreigner within a certain liberty or city (like arrestment in Scotland), till some claims against him be satisfied. 2. Of the Old Forest Courts: 361 Court of Attachments, wood-mote or forty days' court: A court formerly held before the verderors of a forest every forty days to inquire regarding all offenders against vert and venison, and report offences to higher courts. [REGARD, SWEINMOTE, JUSTICE-SEAT.] ( Black stone: Comment., bk. iii., ch. 6.) An attachment of the forest is the proceeding in the old courts of attachments, wood-mote or forty-days' courts.