leading case

2 definitions found

leading case - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Leading \Lead"ing\, a.
     Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading
     motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly,
     adv.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to
        be regarded as settling the law of the question involved.
        --Abbott.
  
     Leading motive [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a
        guiding theme; in the musical drama of Wagner, a marked
        melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies
        the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract
        idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of
        musical label. Also called leitmotif or leitmotiv.
  
     Leading note (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the
        ascending major scale; the sensible note.
  
     Leading question, a question so framed as to guide the
        person questioned in making his reply.
  
     Leading strings, strings by which children are supported
        when beginning to walk.
  
     To be in leading strings, to be in a state of infancy or
        dependence, or under the guidance of others.
  
     Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driving wheels
        of a locomotive engine.
        [1913 Webster]

leading case - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  LEADING CASE. A case decided by a court in the last resort, which settles a 
  particular point or question; the principles upon which it is decided are to 
  be followed in future cases, which are similar to it. Collections of such 
  cases have been made, with commentaries upon them by White, by Wallace and 
  Hare, and others.