AGE, in Law, signifies a certain period of life, when persons of both sexes are enabled to do certain acts. Thus, one at twelve years of age ought to take the oath of allegiance to the king in a leet; at fourteen he may marry, choose his guardian, and claim his lands held in fief. Twenty-one is called full age, a man
or woman being then capable of acting for themselves, or managing their affairs, making contracts, disposing of their estates, and the like.
Age of a Horse. See HORSE.
Age of Trees. These after a certain age waffle. An oak at an hundred years old ceases to grow. The usual rule for judging of the age of wood, is by the number of circles which appear in the substance of a trunk or stock cut perpendicularly, each circle being supposed the growth of a year; though some reject this method as precarious, alleging, that a simple circle is sometimes the produce of several years; besides that, after a certain age, no new circles are formed.
Age prior, in Law, is when an action being brought against a person under age, for lands descended to him, he, by motion or petition, shows the matter to the court, praying the action may be stayed till his full age, which the court generally agrees to.