precontract

noun, verb — 3 senses

precontract

noun

Etymology From pre- + contract.

1

Law A contract preceding another, especially a contract of marriage which, according to the ancient law, rendered void a subsequent marriage solemnized in violation of it.

  • Two grounds are surmised , by opposite parties : a pre-contract with Percy , Earl of Northumberland ; and an adulterous intercourse of Henry , many years preceding , with Anne's sister , Mary Boleyn.1726, John Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani: Or, A Commentary, by Way of Supplement to the Canons and Constitutions of the Church of England. […], London: […] D. Leach, and sold by John Walthoe […], →OCLC:
  • A followed in the Federal courts , to the precontract , valid by the Constitution and laws judice of holders for value who acquired their of a State1867, Benjamin Vaughan Abbott, Digest of the Reports of the United States Courts and Acts of Congress:

precontract

verb

Etymology From pre- + contract.

1

To contract prior to another process.

2

To make a previous contract.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.