habeas corpus

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From Latin habeas corpus ad subjiciendum (“You (shall) have the body to be subjected to (examination)”), referring to the body of the person being detained (not the body of a victim, as in corpus delicti).

habeas corpus (plural habeas corpora or habeas corpuses)

1. (law) A writ to bring a person before a court or a judge, most frequently used to ensure that a person's imprisonment, detention, or commitment is legal.

• habeas corpus ad subjiciendum

habeas corpus (third-person singular simple present habeas corpuses, present participle habeas corpusing, simple past and past participle habeas corpused)

1. (informal, law) To apply the legal principle of habeas corpus to an individual or situation.
   • The Latter Day Saints Millenial Star

     He particularly desired, judging by his actions, to put polygamists out of existence, at the same time very mercifully habeas corpused ill the prostitutes and their supporters

   • Blown in by the Draft

     He saw that according to the fable typed on its lily white face one, John Grimaldi of Brooklyn, was summoned, advised, entreated, requested, ordered, corpus delictied, habeas corpused and generally invited to appear in said court

• corpus delicti

• habeas corpus at OneLook Dictionary Search
• “habeas corpus” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
• “habeas corpus” in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary.
• “habeas corpus” (US) / “habeas corpus” (UK) in Macmillan Dictionary