Search Result for "specific performance":
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. the performance of a legal contract as specified by its terms;


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

specific \spe*cif"ic\ (sp[-e]*s[i^]f"[i^]k), a. [F. sp['e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. specify.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice. [1913 Webster] Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster] 2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement. [1913 Webster] 3. (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaptation, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria. [1913 Webster] In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster] Specific character (Nat. Hist.), a characteristic or characteristics distinguishing one species from every other species of the same genus. Specific disease (Med.) (a) A disease which produces a determinate definite effect upon the blood and tissues or upon some special tissue. (b) A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a definite and peculiar poison or organism. Specific duty. (Com.) See under Duty. Specific gravity. (Physics) See under Gravity. Specific heat (Physics), the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000. Specific inductive capacity (Physics), the effect of a dielectric body in producing static electric induction as compared with that of some other body or bodies referred to as a standard. Specific legacy (Law), a bequest of a particular thing, as of a particular animal or piece of furniture, specified and distinguished from all others. --Wharton. --Burrill. Specific name (Nat. Hist.), the name which, appended to the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of the species; -- originally applied by Linnaeus to the essential character of the species, or the essential difference. The present specific name he at first called the trivial name. Specific performance (Law), the peformance of a contract or agreement as decreed by a court of equity. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

specific performance n 1: the performance of a legal contract as specified by its terms
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE, remedies. The actual accomplishment of a contract by the party bound to fulfill it. 2. Many contracts are entered into by parties to fulfill certain things, and then the contracting parties neglect or refuse to fulfill their engagements. In such cases the party grieved has generally a remedy at law, and he may recover damages for the breach of the contract; but, in many cases, the recovery of damages is an incompetent remedy, and the party seeks to recover a specific performance of the agreement. 3. It is a general rule, that courts of equity will entertain jurisdiction for a specific performance of agreements, whenever courts of law can give but an inadequate remedy; and it is immaterial whether the subject relate to real or personal estate. 1 Madd. Ch. Pr. 295; 2 Story on Eq. Sec. 717; 1 Sim, & Stu. 607; 1 P. Wms. 570; 1 Sch. & Lef. 553; 1 Vern. 159. 4. But the rule is confined to cases where courts of law cannot give an adequate remedy. 2 Story on Eq. Sec. 718; Eden on Inj. ch. 3, p. 27. Vide, generally, 2 Story on Eq. ch. 18, Sec. 712 to 792; 1 Supp. to Ves. jr. 96, 148, 184, 211, 495; 2 Supp. to Ves. jr. 65, 164; Fonb. Eq. b. 1, c. 1, s. 5; Sugd. Vend. 145.