vis major

3 definitions found

vis major - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Vis major \Vis ma"jor\ [L. major greater.] (Law)
     A superior force which under certain circumstances is held to
     exempt from contract obligations; inevitable accident; -- a
     civil-law term used as nearly equivalent to, but broader
     than, the common-law term act of God (which see).
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

vis major - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  vis major
      n 1: a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the
           expected course of events; "he discovered that his house
           was not insured against acts of God" [syn: act of God,
           force majeure, vis major, inevitable accident,
           unavoidable casualty]

vis major - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  VIS MAJOR, a superior force. In law it signifies inevitable accident. 
       2. This term is used in the civil law in nearly the same same way that 
  the words act of God, (q.v.) are used in the common law. Generally, no one 
  is responsible for an accident which arises from the vis major; but a man 
  may be so where he has stipulated that he would; and when he has been guilty 
  of a fraud or deceit. 2 Kent, Com. 448; Poth. Pret a Usage, n. 48, n. 60 
  Story Bailm. Sec. 25.