deodand (plural deodands)
(historical, law) An object forfeited to the state (and supposedly to God) because it had caused the death of a person.
(historical, law) A fine equal to the value of this object, paid by the owner of the object.
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Source: Wiktionary
De"o*dand`, n. Etym: [LL. deodandum, fr. L. Deo dandum to be given to God.] (Old Eng. Law)
Definition: A personal chattel which had caused the death of a person, and for that reason was given to God, that is, forfeited to the crown, to be applied to pious uses, and distributed in alms by the high almoner. Thus, if a cart ran over a man and killed him, it was forfeited as a deodand.
Note: Deodands are unknown in American law, and in 1846 were abolished in England.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
13 February 2025
(verb) cause the failure or ruin of; “His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage”; “This play will either make or break the playwright”
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.
