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| bail [ bayl ] |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. security for appearance in court: a sum of money deposited to secure an accused person's temporary release from custody and to guarantee that person's appearance in court at a later date. If the person fails to appear in court on the date set, the money is forfeited.
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2. release under security: temporary release from custody after bail has been paid
  Her brother was out on bail.
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3. somebody who pays bail: somebody who pays bail
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verb (past and past participle bailed, present participle bail·ing, 3rd person present singular bails) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb free somebody by paying bail: to release an accused person from custody after bail has been paid
(
usually passive
)
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2. intransitive verb crash: in snowboarding, to crash or fall
(
slang
)
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| [14th century. < Old French, "temporary custody" < baillier "take charge of" < Latin bajulus "somebody who carries (responsibility)"] |
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| bail·a·ble adjective |
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jump or skip bail to fail to appear in court as promised at the end of a bail period (informal)
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