Your gift counts double until 5/31: $20,109 to go in our Easter Campaign. Please help now!

Dictionary

A modern dictionary of Catholic terms, both common and obscure. Find accurate definitions of words and phrases.

Search:

Or browse the dictionary by selecting a letter!
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ACCESSION

In Catholic moral philosophy the title by which one comes into the ownership of the natural or artificial increment accruing to his property. New trees in a forest, new births in a herd are examples of natural increment. Artificial increment occurs when the property of two or more people becomes inseparably mixed without a previous agreement, as when someone in good faith makes wine out of someone else's grapes. In general the property should go to the one who contributed most to the combined value, with compensation to the other. (Etym. Latin accessus, a coming unto, approach.)

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

Think with the Catholic Leaders: Subscribe to Catholic Culture Insights Newsletter
Donate to Support this Site: Your contribution will be put to good work.
Tour the CatholicCulture.org Site
Shop Amazon to Raise Money for Catholic Culture

Recent Catholic Commentary

Revealing News, and Revealing Christ 18 hours ago
The Russell Ford problem 19 hours ago
Fr. Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly: Your Letter May Help May 24
The Rise and Fall of the (American?) Church May 23
The Ideal of Pope Francis: the Servant Church May 23

Top Catholic News

Most Important Stories of the Last 30 Days
Pope strongly supports call for reform in religious life CWN - May 8