Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Glebe refers to a piece of land that is owned by a church or a religious leader. In the past, it was also used to describe a large estate that was passed down as an inheritance. The term comes from the Latin word "gleba," which means "clod of earth." Today, glebe land is governed by specific laws that define how it can be used and who has the right to own it.
Definition: Glebe (gleeb) is a term that has two meanings:
For example, in Roman law, if a person inherited a piece of land, that land would be considered their glebe. The slaves who worked on that land were also bound to it and could not leave without permission. In Ecclesiastical law, churches or religious institutions may own land that is considered their glebe. This land is used to generate revenue for the church or to provide housing for the clergy.
The examples illustrate how the term glebe can be used in different contexts. In Roman law, it refers to the ownership of land and the people who work on it. In Ecclesiastical law, it refers to the land owned by a church or religious institution that is used to generate revenue or provide housing for the clergy.