KJV Dictionary Definition: occupancy

occupancy

OC'CUPANCY, n. L. occupo, to take or seize; ob and capio, to seize.

1. The act of taking possession.

2. In law, the taking possession of a thing not belonging to any person. the person who first takes possession of land is said to have or hold it by right of occupancy.

Occupancy gave the original right to the property in the substance of the earth itself.

occupant

OC'CUPANT, n.

1. He that occupies or takes possession; he that has possession.

2. In law, one that first takes possession of that which has no legal owner. The right of property, either in wild beasts and fowls, or in land belonging to no person, vests in the first occupant. The property in these cases follows the possession.

occupate

OC'CUPATE, v.t. L. occupo. To hold; to possess; to take up. Not used.

occupation

OCCUPA'TION, n. L. occupatio.

1. The act of taking possession.

2. Possession; a holding or keeping; tenure; use; as lands in the occupation of AB.

3. That which engages the time and attention; employment; business. He devotes to study all the time that his other occupations will permit.

4. The principal business of one's life; vocation; calling; trade; the business which a man follows to procure a living or obtain wealth. Agriculture, manufactures and commerce furnish the most general occupations of life. Painting, statuary, music, are agreeable occupations. Men not engaged in some useful occupation commonly fall into vicious courses.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
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