Legal Definitions - nient seisi

Definition: Nient seisi (nee-ent see-zee) is a legal term that comes from Law French and means "not seised." It refers to a general denial in a writ to recover an annuity.

Example: If someone is trying to recover an annuity from another person, they might file a writ that includes the phrase "nient seisi" as a general denial of the claim.

Explanation: This means that the person being sued is denying that they owe the annuity. They are saying that they were never "seised" or possessed of the annuity in the first place, so they cannot be held responsible for it. This was a common defense in annuity cases in the past.