PIOS

4 definitions found across Law Mind sources

PIOSAuthored
The Law Mind • 342 words
Definition
"Pios" is the Latin accusative plural of "pius" (dutiful, devout, charitable) and appears in legal usage almost exclusively as part of the phrase "usus pios" — meaning "pious uses" or "charitable uses." Standing alone, the term has no independent legal definition; it functions as a grammatical component of a term of art directing that property or funds be applied to religious, charitable, or benevolent purposes. See: USUS PIOS.
Why It Matters in Research
Researchers encountering "pios" in isolation within historical legal texts — particularly in wills, ecclesiastical records, and equity pleadings — should treat it as a fragmentary reference to "usus pios" and follow that cross-reference. The term appears most commonly in Latin-language instruments and in early English chancery documents dealing with charitable trusts and bequests to the church or poor. Anderson's Dictionary of Law directs readers from "pios" immediately to "Usus, Pios," signaling that the term carries no standalone doctrinal weight. This is the correct approach: corpus searches for "pios" alone will surface noise unless filtered alongside "usus" or within ecclesiastical and probate contexts.
Historical Dictionary Support
Anderson's Dictionary of Law treats "pios" purely as a cross-reference, directing readers to "Usus, Pios" without providing an independent definition. This is consistent with the term's role in legal Latin: it is adjectival and relational, not definitional on its own. Historical dictionaries that index Latin legal terms generally handle "pios" the same way — as inseparable from the noun "usus" in legal context. No historical legal dictionary consulted provides a standalone substantive definition for "pios."
Related Terms
Usus Pios — the operative compound term; the primary entry for substantive doctrine Charitable Uses — the English-law functional equivalent; governed historically by the Statute of Charitable Uses (1601) Cy-Pres — equitable doctrine applied when a pious or charitable use cannot be executed as directed Bona Vacantia — property without an ownersometimes directed to pious uses in early civil and canon law Trust — the modern structural vehicle for purposes formerly described as pious uses
PIOSmain
Anderson's Dictionary of Law • 1890
See Usus, Pios. PIRACY.6 Robbery and depredation upon the high seas.7 Robbery and forcible depredation upon the high sea, animo furandi.8 Robbery or forcible depredation on the high seas, without lawful authority, done animo furandi, and in the spirit and intention of universal hostility.9 Pirate. One who roves the sea in an armed vessel, without commission from any sovereign State, on his own authority, and for the purpose of seizing by force, and appropriating to himself, without discrimination, every vessel he may meet.10 Piratical. Imports an aggression unauthorized by the law of nations, hostile in character, wanton and criminal in its commission, and utterly without sanction from any public authority or sovereign power, - that the act belongs to the class of offenses which pirates are in the habit of perpetrating, whether the purpose be plunder, hatred, revenge, or wanton abuse of power. 11 1 Steph. Hist. Cr. Law Eng. 490. The Alzena, 14 F. R. 174-76 (1882), cases. • See also Fahnestock v. State, 102 Ind. 156 (1884). Barring. Stat. 181. • Howard v. Digby, 8 Bligh, 269 (1834). F. pirate: Gk. peirates', one who attempts or attacks. [4 Bl. Com. 71. • United States v. Smith, 5 Wheat. 161-62 (1820), Story, J. 1 Kent, 183; Dole v. New England Mut. Mar. Ins. Co., 2 Cliff. 416 (1864). United States v. Baker, 5 Blatch. 12 (1861), Nelson, J.; Davison v. Seal-skins, 2 Paine, 333 (1838?). 11 United States v. The Malek Adhel, 2 How. 232 (1844), Story, J. Hostilities committed under a commission from a party to a recognized war are not included. In that case the superior may be held for the act.1 Piracy is the same offense at sea as robbery on land. It is everywhere punished with death; at common law was punished as an offense against the law of nations (part of the common law) - the universal law of society: a pirate being deemed an enemy of his race, hostis humani generis.2 Congress shall have power "To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations." 3 "To define" is to enumerate the crimes which shall constitute piracy. 2. Infringement of a copyright by reprinting all or a substantial portion of the production, word for word; or, by imitating or copying it with colorable alterations. Citing the most important parts of a copyrighted work, with a view not to criticism but to supersede the use of the original work and to substitute the review. 5 In determining the question of piracy, quantity, quality and value are regarded. If the selections are made animo furandi, with intent to make use of them for the purpose for which the original author used them, to convey in a different publication the information he imparted, or to supplant him in his own territory, a small quantity will suffice to support the charge. If the pirated portion, being substantial, cannot be separated from the original matter without destroying the publication, the whole book will be enjoined - upon the principle of the doctrine of "confusion of goods." See ABRIDGE, 1; COMPILE; REVIEW, 3.
PIOsnoun
Wiktionary (English) • 2026
Wiktionary contributorsCC BY-SA 4.0 • via Kaikki
Extracted and formatted for display by Law Mind. Source link opens the current Wiktionary page and its contributor history; it is not a frozen copy of this extract.
plural of PIO
PiOSname
Wiktionary (English) • 2026
Wiktionary contributorsCC BY-SA 4.0 • via Kaikki
Extracted and formatted for display by Law Mind. Source link opens the current Wiktionary page and its contributor history; it is not a frozen copy of this extract.
Abbreviation of Pi Open Source Software License.

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