Law. [a. AF. fee-simple (Littleton); see FEE sb.2 and SIMPLE; in Anglo-Lat. feodum simplex or purum, in AF. fee pur. The combination is not found in continental use; it seems to have been intended to denote a ‘fee’ in the unqualified sense of the word, as opposed to a FEE-TAIL.]
An estate in land, etc. belonging to the owner and his heirs for ever, without limitation to any particular class of heirs. In fee-simple: in absolute possession.
1463. Bury Wills (1850), 31. The seid lond to remayne to me infysympill.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 12 b. Tenauntes in fee symple.
1577. Northbrooke, Dicing (1843), 115. It causeth manie of them … to bring their fee simple into fee single.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. x. 27. Cade. Heere’s the Lord of the soile come to seize me for a stray, for entering his Fee-simple without leaue.
1667. Pepys, Diary (1879), IV. 260. Unless we could buy the fee-simple of it.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 104. Tenant in fee-simple … is he that hath lands, tenements, or hereditaments, to hold to him and his heirs for ever.
1849. Bright, Sp. Burden on Land, 15 March. A rise in the value of the fee-simple of an acre.
transf. and fig. 1601. Shaks., All’s Well that ends Well, IV. iii. 311. He will sell the fee-simple of his saluation.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. iv. I. iii. (1651), 661. They are the true heirs, have the Feesimple of heaven by a peculiar donation.
1781. Cowper, Conversation, 590.
| Is sparkling wit the world’s exclusive right? | |
| The fix’d fee-simple of the vain and light? |
1880. Mrs. Lynn Linton, Rebel of Family, I. iv. Here were four women, of any one of whom he had the fee simple.
b. attrib. (lit. and fig.) as fee-simple-blood, -estate, -ground, -land, -purchase, -wits.
1463. Bury Wills (1850), 31. Fysympil grownd.
1607. Heywood, Fayre Mayde, Wks. 1874, II. 47.
| But O for shame that man should so arraigne | |
| Their owne feesimple wits, for verball theft! |
1639. Drumm. of Hawth., Challenge Knts. Err., Wks, (1711), 233. We of Hereditary and Fee-simple Blood.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4723/3. A Fee Simple Estate … inclosed with Quick Fences.
1807. Vancouver, Agric. Devon (1813), 308. Fee-simple purchase of 140 acres.
