释义 |
Definition of ancient lights in English: ancient lightsplural nouneɪnʃəntˈlʌɪts English Law treated as singular The right of access to light of a property, established by custom and used to prevent the construction of buildings on adjacent property which would obstruct such access. Example sentencesExamples - On the other hand, the Court ought to be very careful not to allow an action for the protection of ancient lights to be used as a means of extorting money.
- Thus, it is regarded from this account that the first lightstructures could be described as ` fire-towers’ and, indeed, many ancient lights are referred to with this term.
- Tom associates England with ‘ancient lights’, a phrase that for him resonates with the mythic and the mystic.
- The very settled approach in the United States is to reject such claims (England has a doctrine of ancient lights which was firmly rejected here).
Origin Mid 18th century: from lights meaning 'light from the sky'. In England the sign ‘Ancient Lights’ was often placed on a house, adjacent to a site where a high building might be erected. |