Meanings
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1
noun
law: habeas corpus, especially a petition, proceeding, or writ seeking judicial review of a person's detention
The prisoner's lawyer filed for habeas after new evidence cast doubt on the conviction.
Thesaurus
Etymology
An English shortening of habeas corpus. Latin habeas is the second-person singular present subjunctive of habere ("to have") and opens the writ formula habeas corpus, literally "you shall have the body," ordering that a detainee be brought before a court.