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ha·be·as corpus (hb-s) n. One of a variety of writs that may be issued to bring a party before a court or judge, having as its function the release of the party from unlawful restraint. The right of a citizen to obtain such a writ. [Middle English, from Medieval Latin habes corpus, produce the body (from the opening words of the writ)  : Latin habes, second person sing. present subjunctive of habre, to have + Latin corpus, body.]

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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