Enceinte
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ENCEINTE, med. jur. A French word, which signifies pregnant.
2. When a woman is pregnant, and is convicted of a capital crime, she
cannot lawfully be punished till after her delivery.
3. in the English law, where a widow is suspected to feign herself with
child, in order to produce a supposititious heir to the estate, the
presumptive heir may have a writ de ventre inspiciendo, to examine whether
she be with child or not. Cro. Eliz. 566; 4 Bro. C. C. 90. As to the signs
of pregnancy, see 1 Beck's Med. Jur. 157. See, generally, 4 Bl. Com. 894; 2
P. Wms. 591; 1 Cox, C. C. 297 and Pregnancy; Privement enceinte.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published 1856.