Legal Definitions - concedo

Concedo is a historical Latin term that translates directly to "I grant." In legal contexts, particularly in past centuries, it was formally used in documents to signify the act of transferring or bestowing property, rights, or privileges from one party to another. It indicated a formal declaration by the grantor that they were indeed giving something away, often in the context of deeds or charters.

Here are some examples to illustrate its historical application:

• Example 1: Royal Land Grant

  Imagine a medieval monarch formally bestowing a large tract of land, complete with its resources and inhabitants, upon a loyal noble as a reward for service. The official charter documenting this transfer might have contained the phrase, "Nos concedo..." (We grant...) to signify the monarch's authoritative act of giving the land to the noble. This illustrates concedo as the formal declaration of granting property.

• Example 2: Granting a Right of Way

  Consider a historical agreement between two neighboring landowners where one grants the other the permanent right to cross a specific path on their property to access a public road. An old deed or agreement establishing this easement might have used language like, "I, [Grantor's Name], concedo to [Grantee's Name] the right of passage over my lands..." This demonstrates concedo being used to formally bestow a specific legal right, not just physical property.

• Example 3: Chartering a Town or Guild

  In the past, a sovereign or lord might issue a charter to a town or a guild, granting them specific privileges such as the right to hold a market, collect tolls, or govern themselves. The formal language of such a charter would typically include "concedo" to signify the sovereign's act of bestowing these special rights and freedoms upon the entity. This shows concedo in the context of granting institutional privileges or powers.