DISCHARGE (adapted from the O. Fr. discharge,

See also:

• MODERN

modern decharge, from a med.

See also:

• LAT

Lat. discargare, to unload, dis- and

See also:

• EARN

earn care, to load, cf. "

See also:

• CHARGE
• CHARGE (through the Fr. from the Late Lat. carricare, to load in a carrus or wagon; cf. " cargo ")

charge ")  , a word meaning relief from a load or burden, hence applied to the unloading of a ship, the firing of a weapon, the passage of electricity from an electrified body, the issue from a wound, &c . From the sense of relief from an obligation, " discharge " is also applied to the release of a soldier or sailor from military or naval service, or of the crew of a merchant vessel, or to the dismissal from an office or situation . In law, it is used of a document or other evidence that can be accepted as proof of the release from an obligation, as of a receipt, on payment of money due . Similarly it is applied to the release in accordance with law of a person in custody on a criminal charge, and to the legal release of a bankrupt from further liability for debts provable in the bankruptcy except those incurred by fraud or debts to the crown . It is also applied to the reversal of an order of a court . In the case of divorce, where the rule nisi is not made absolute, the rule is said to be discharged .