Patent
An exclusive privilege granted to an inventor to
make, use or sell an invention for a set number of years.
Pauper's Oath
An affidavit of indigence.
Pedastry
A sexual abuse crime wherein an adult male
sexually assaults an adolescent male outside of his family.
Pedophile
A person afflicted with pedophilia, a sexual perversion in which children are
preferred as sexual partners.
Pen Register
An electronic surveillance device which attaches
to a phone line and registers every number dialed from a specific
telephone.
Penal Code
A statute which lists and defines prohibited
conduct and the punishments associated with each.
Pendente Lite
Latin for "during litigation."
Pension
A private or government fund, from which regular
benefits and stipends are paid to a person upon their retirement or
disability.
Per Capita
Latin for "by the head."
Per Stirpes
Latin for "by branch," used to indicate the
system by which children inherit a descendant's will when their parent has since
deceased; an entitlement to participate in the distribution of property, such as
an estate, that flows down to the named beneficiary's next heir if they are
otherwise unable to take their share.