Fee

(fe.) [A.S. feon, cattle-because the only property recognized in early states of society.) (Eng. Law.) Under the feudal system, a fief, or tenure of land held under a superior lord, under certain conditions. In the modern sense, an estate in fee-simple is one which a person holds to himself and his heirs general, both lineal and collateral, male and female; and such an estate can be had only in property that is inheritable, and of a permanent nature. -(Amer. Law.) An inheritable estate in which the holder po e es full rights of proprietorship. [s. 358]