Adhibition

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌædhɪˈbɪʃən/

Definitions

1. The formal legal process by which possession of property or certain rights is given to another party
2. A judicial act involving the official conferral of ownership or entitlement to assets
3. The court-sanctioned transfer or allocation of property or rights to an individual or entity

Etymology: "Adhibition" comes from Latin "adhibitio," a noun built on "adhibere," meaning "to apply" or "to bring to bear," and formed from "ad-" ("to") plus "habere" ("to have, hold"). The core idea is of bringing something to bear on a matter, which is why the English word has a sense of applying or using something. In English the word's central use is as a formal term for the granting of an official legal authorisation, the act of bringing a formal sanction or permission to bear on a case. Its meaning sits close to its Latin source: something is applied, or brought forward, in an official way. Its appearance is that of a learned borrowing, and it has stayed a specialist, legal-leaning word rather than an everyday one.