Rom. Law. [a. L. fidei-commissum, neut. pa. pple. of fidei-committĕre, f. fidei, dat. of fidēs faith + committĕre to entrust, COMMIT.] A bequest which a person made by begging his heir or legatee to transfer something to a third person.
1737–41. in Chambers, Cycl.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. II. xx. 327. The fidei commissum, which usually was created by will, was the disposal of an inheritance to one, in confidence that he should convey it or dispose of the profits at the will of another.
So Fidei-commissary [ad. L. fidei commissārius: see -ARY], of, belonging to, or of the nature of a fidei-commissum. Fidei-commissarily adv. [ + -LY2], in a fidei-commissary or precatory manner; through a fidei-commissum. Fidei-commission, the action involved in a fidei-commissum; an instance of this. Fidei-commissioner [+ -ER1], one who receives a fidei-commissum. Fidei-commissor, ‘he that commits a thing to be disposed of by another’ (Blount, Glossogr., 1656–81).
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Fidei-Commissum,… A Pretor was erected, whose Business was restrain’d to the single Matter of Fidei-Commissions. Ibid. The Fidei-Commissioner refused to accept the Trust, upon which the Testament fell to the Ground.
1880. Muirhead, Ulpian, xxv. § 3. A fideicommissary gift may be left even by a mere nod. Ibid. (1880), Gaius, II. § 247. Fideicommissary inheritances. Ibid., § 260. Competent for a testator to bequeath single things by fideicommissary gift. Ibid., § 289. He cannot be appointed fideicommissarily. Ibid. (1880), Ulpian, ii. § 8. He to whom freedom is given fideicommissarily is a freedman not of the testator’s but of the manumitter’s.
