Vestigial words

{
  "id": "MLC-T-LAW-005158",
  "term": "Vestigial words",
  "field": "Law",
  "definition": "Words or phrases in a legal document, such as a statute or contract, that have lost their original meaning or function over time but remain as part of the text. These remnants of older legal language can create ambiguity or confusion in interpretation, as their historical context is no longer apparent. Courts may either disregard them as surplusage or attempt to find a modern meaning, a process guided by canons of statutory construction.",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/law/vestigial-words/"
}