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  BAIL  
  From 13th Century Latin bail and 13th Century English bail meaning "a MONEY BOND". From the pre 8th Century Latin baiulus = "coffin bearer, carrier of a burden". In the 15th Century, the word acquired the additional legal meaning "a money bond for the temporary release from jail".  
   
 

BANKRUPTCY

 
  From 13th Century English created from Latin bancus (bench,table) and ruptus (break,tear, burst). Insolvent - unable to pay creditors and having all goods/effects administered by a liquidator or trustee and sold for the benefit of those creditors;  
     
  BAR  
  The members of the legal profession.  
   
  BELIEF  
  From 12th Century English belēof itself from pre 10th Century words beo="life, living" lēof="beloved, dear". The earliest meaning was "A TRUST in the CLAIMS of the Church (Roman Cult) being TRUE." A deliberate corruption of the earlier words from which Belief was born which sould render the meaning "A love of life". By the 15th Century, the word belief was simplified to mean "RELIGIOUS FAITH".  
     
  BENCH  
  The Judge's seat or the judge, himself/herself, (e.g., the attorney addressed the bench)  
     
  BONA FIDE  
  "In good faith" - A Bona Fide Agreement is one entered into genuinely without attempt to fraud.  
   
  BOND  
  From 14th Century Latin bond and 14th Century English bond meaning "a serf or slave by binding agreement/covenant". A deliberate and cruel corruption of the pre 12th Century English word bonda and Old Norse bondi meaning "free-born farmer". By the 16th Century, the word also acquired the meaning "An agreed obligation/oath to pay a DEBT or to perform a CONTRACT". The key operating factor is CONSENT. Once an indivividual gives their content, they are "bonded" (slaves) to that obligation and subject to BONDAGE.  
   
  BONDAGE  
  From 14th Century Latin bondagium meaning "conditions of a bonded serf or slave". As a BOND is a legally binding agreement of service/slavery, it must contain at least one condition. The accumulative conditions are bondage. The sexual sado-masochism sense of this word is first recorded in 1966.  
     
  BRIEF  
  a written or printed document prepared by the lawyers on each side of a dispute and submitted to the court in support of their arguments - a brief includes the points of law which the lawyer wished to establish, the arguments the lawyer uses, and the legal authorities on which the lawyer rests his/her conclusions.  
     
  BULL  
  A common abbreviation for PAPAL BULL, an official CHARTER or LETTERS PATENT promulgated by a Pope of the Roman Cult (Vatican).  
     
  BULLA  
  Pre 3rd Century Latin literally meaning "bubble" but commonly known for their use a SEAL. Originally, Bulla were hollow clay envelopes affixed with chords to important documents to prevent tampering (often with images on the outside). However, official Ancient Imperial documents were also "sealed" using lead bulla. This practice of bulla (seals) was resurrected in the 12th Century by the Roman Cult.  
     
     
 
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