to replevin
9.9
To use a court action to get back personal property someone else is wrongly holding
- verb
- /rɪˈplɛvɪn/
- Formal
:
replevin
- The lawyer filed a motion to replevin the artwork that had been improperly taken from the gallery.
Examples
-
She decided to replevin her grandfather's watch after discovering it was sold without her consent.
-
A minority of states apply a discovery standard to replevin actions, shifting the burden onto the original owner or heirs by running the statute of limitations from the time they should have known of the theft.
Academic text (2006) -
In order to reclaim her bicycle, she initiated a replevin action against the person who had taken it.
Synonyms
27
5.8
To take back a house or car when someone stops paying
is recovered by court order when property was wrongfully taken or withheld
Antonyms
How Legal
to replevin
- Formal
to repossess
27
5.8
- Specialized
27
5.8
to reclaim
130
4.1
130
4.1
to recover
865
2.5
865
2.5
to take back
400
3.0
400
3.0
Surface Forms
replevin infinitive
replevined past
replevined past participle
replevining present participle
replevins third person singular
Etymology
Replevin comes from the same old French idea of 'taking back'. The re- part means 'back', so to replevin something is to use the courts to take your property back.