OPUS MANIFICIUM (from Lat. opus, work, mamas, hand). Manual labor. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 48, § 3.
0 R. A disjunctive particle.
As a particle, or is often construed and, and and construed or, to further the intent of the parties, in legacieS, devises, deeds, bonds, and writings; Watkins v. Sears, 3 Gill (Md.) 492; 3 Greenl. Ev. §§ 18, 25; 1 Wills. Exrs. 932; 5 Co. 112 a ; Cro. Jac. 322; Courter v. Stagg, 27 N. J. Eq. 305; Dumont v. U. S., 98 U. S. 143, 25 L. Ed. 65; Kanne v. R. Co., 33 Minn. 419, 23 N. W. 854; but its more natural meaning, when used as a connective, is to mark an alternative and present a choice, implying an election to do one of two things; New Haven Young Men's Institute v. New Haven, 60 Conn. 32, 22 Atl. 447. It sometimes has the same effect as the word "nor"; In re Cody's Estate, 20 N. Y. Supp. 16.
Where an indictment is in the alternative, as forged or caused to be forged, it is bad for uncertainty; 1 Y. & J. 22. But a de
scription of a horse as of a brown or bay , color, in an indictment for larceny of such horse, is good; State v. Gilbert, 13 Vt. 647; and so an indictment describing a nuisance as in the highway or road ; Respublica v. Caldwell, .1 Dail. (Pa.) 150, 1 L. Ed. 77. See State v. R. Co., 28 Vt. 583. So, "break or enter," in a statute defining burglary, means "break and enter" ; Rolland v. Com., 82 Pa. 326, 22 Am. Rep. 758; Com. v. Griffin, 105 Mass. 185.
The word or is used in the sense of to wit,. that is, in explanation of what precedes, and making it signify the same thing. Thus, in an indictment, bank bills or promissory notes, they meant the same thing ; Brown v. Cora., 8 Mass. 59.