(a) Something done, an act, a deed; ~ of penitence (penaunce), an act of penance; (b) the operation or effect (of heat or fire); the activity or function (of a bodily organ); ~ visif, process of seeing, sight; ~ of hering, etc.

Law (a) The right to take legal steps for the redress of a wrong, right to bring suit in a court of law; cause or grounds for a lawsuit; also fig.; (b) a formal demand of one's right from another in a court of law, a lawsuit; haven (taken, suen) ~, to bring suit (against sb.); -- often with ayen(es, of, on, upon; (c) forein ~, a suit originating outside the manor, town, etc., in which the defendant lives; ~ of account, suit against an agent or bailiff who has refused to render an accounting; ~ of atteint, suit against jurymen to convict them of perjury; ~ of covenaunt, suit for breach of contract; ~ of detenue, suit for recovery of property lawfully taken but unlawfully retained; ~ of dette, suit to recover money owed one (either as an ordinary debt or by forfeiture); ~ of trespasse, suit for damages or an injury; ~ personel, suit directed at the person of the defendant, rather than against the thing under litigation; ~ real, suit directed at the specific thing which the plaintiff seeks to recover (or for which he demands payment).