Comity

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Comity \Com"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Comities}. [L. comitas, fr. comis
     courteous, kind.]
     Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy between equals;
     friendly civility; as, comity of manners; the comity of
     States.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     {Comity of nations} (International Law), the courtesy by
        which nations recognize within their own territory, or in
        their courts, the peculiar institutions of another nation
        or the rights and privileges acquired by its citizens in
        their own land. By some authorities private international
        law rests on this comity, but the better opinion is that
        it is part of the common law of the land, and hence is
        obligatory as law.
  
     Syn: Civility; good breeding; courtesy; good will.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  comity
       n : a state or atmosphere of harmony or mutual civility and
           respect

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  COMITY. Courtesy; a disposition to accommodate. 
       2. Courts of justice in one state will, out of comity, enforce the laws 
  of another state, when by such enforcement they will not violate their laws 
  or inflict. an injury on some one of their own citizens; as, for example, 
  the discharge of a debtor under the insolvent laws of one state, will be 
  respected in another state, where there is a reciprocity in this respect. 
       3. It is a general rule that the municipal laws of a country do not 
  extend beyond its limits, and cannot be enforced in another, except on the 
  principle of comity. But when those laws clash and interfere with the rights 
  of citizens, or the laws of the countries where the parties to the contract 
  seek to enforce it, as one or the other must give way, those prevailing 
  where the relief is sought must have the preference. 2 Mart. Lo. Rep. N. S. 
  93; S. C. 2 Harr. Cond. Lo. Rep. 606, 609; 2 B. & C. 448, 471; 6 Binn. 353; 
  5 Cranch, 299; 2 Mass. 84; 6 Mass. 358; 7 Mart. Lo. R. 318. See Conflict of 
  Laws; Lex loci contractus.