: a common law action to recover the value of goods wrongfully converted to another's own use

Examples of trover in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Carr was arrested and charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, first-degree criminal trover, interfering with a police officer and operating a motor vehicle without a license. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Nov. 2024 Footman faces charges of second-degree larceny, second-degree kidnapping, assault on a police officer, second-degree criminal trover and interfering with an officer. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French, finding, trover, from trover to find

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trover was in 1594

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Cite this Entry

“Trover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trover. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Legal Definition

: an action at common law to recover the value of chattels or goods wrongfully converted by another to his or her own use compare detinue
Etymology

short for action of trover and conversion; Anglo-French trover act of finding (alluding to goods lost by the plaintiff and found by the defendant), from trover to find, from Old French

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