noun
: a pleading in English ecclesiastical law in which defendant does not deny plaintiff's allegations but avers special circumstances and facts constituting a defense thereby requiring plaintiff to answer upon oath the matter set up in defense
noun
: a pleading in English ecclesiastical law in which defendant does not deny plaintiff's allegations but avers special circumstances and facts constituting a defense thereby requiring plaintiff to answer upon oath the matter set up in defense
Webster's New International English Dictionary. Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster. 2012