Legal Definitions - veray

Veray

Historically, veray is a legal term meaning true or genuine. It was used in older legal contexts to affirm the authenticity, accuracy, or factual correctness of a statement, document, or event.

Here are some examples illustrating its historical application:

• In a 14th-century court case concerning a disputed inheritance, a witness might have been asked to swear an oath to provide the "veray" account of the deceased's wishes. This means the witness was expected to give a true and accurate testimony, reflecting the genuine intentions of the deceased, without embellishment or falsehood.

• During a medieval inquiry into the ownership of a piece of land, a royal decree might have declared a particular boundary stone to be the "veray" marker established by previous generations. Here, veray signifies that the stone was the genuine and rightful boundary, not one that had been moved or falsely placed.

• A historical legal charter, such as a grant of rights or privileges, might have been presented in court, and its authenticity challenged. If the court determined the document was indeed the original and unaltered version, it would be declared a "veray" charter. This indicates the document was true and authentic, not a forgery or a copy with altered terms.