Simple English definitions for legal terms
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An average is a single value that represents a group of things. It can be the mean, median, or mode of a series of numbers. It is also the typical level or norm. In maritime law, it can refer to accidental partial loss or damage to a ship or its cargo during a voyage. There are different types of averages, such as general average, which is a contribution by all parties involved in a commercial voyage towards a loss sustained by some for the benefit of all, and particular average, which is a loss borne solely by the person who suffered it. The term "average" also has a historical meaning, referring to a service due from a feudal tenant to a lord, but its exact nature is unclear.
Definition: A single value that represents a broad sample of subjects; especially in mathematics, the mean, median, or mode of a series. The ordinary or typical level; the norm. In maritime law, accidental partial loss or damage to an insured ship or its cargo during a voyage.
These examples illustrate how the term "average" can be used in different contexts. In mathematics, the average is a way to represent a set of numbers with a single value. In maritime law, the average is a way to share the cost of accidental damage or loss among all parties involved in a voyage.