Territory - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Territory :  (noun)
1: a region marked off for administrative or other purposes [syn: district, territorial dominion, dominion]
2: an area of knowledge or interest; "his questions covered a lot of territory"
3: the geographical area under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state; "American troops were stationed on Japanese soil" [syn: soil]

Based on WordNet 2.0

Territory : \Ter"ri*to*ry\, n.; pl. Territories. [L. territorium, from terra the earth: cf. F. territoire. See Terrace.] 1. A large extent or tract of land; a region; a country; a district.

He looked, and saw wide territory spread Before him -- towns, and rural works between. --Milton.

2. The extent of land belonging to, or under the dominion of, a prince, state, or other form of government; often, a tract of land lying at a distance from the parent country or from the seat of government; as, the territory of a State; the territories of the East India Company.

3. In the United States, a portion of the country not included within the limits of any State, and not yet admitted as a State into the Union, but organized with a separate legislature, under a Territorial governor and other officers appointed by the President and Senate of the United States. In Canada, a similarly organized portion of the country not yet formed into a Province.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

TERRITORY. Apart of a country, separated from the rest, and subject to a particular jurisdiction. The word is derived from terreo, and is so called because the magistrate within his jurisdiction has the power of inspiring a salutary fear. Dictum cat ab eo quod magistratus intra fines ejus terrendi jus habet. Henrion de Pansy, Auth. Judiciare, 98. In speaking of the ecclesiastical jurisdictions, Francis Duaren observes, that the ecclesiastics are said not to have territory, nor the power of arrest or removal, and are not unlike the Roman magistrates of whom Gellius says vocationem habebant non prehensionem. De Sacris Eccl. Minist. lib. 1, cap. 4. In the sense it is used in the constitution of the United States, it signifies a portion of the country subject to and belonging to the United States, which is not within the boundary of any of them. 2. The constitution of the United States, art. 4, s. 3, provides, that "the congress shall have power to dispose of, and make all needful rules and regulations respecting theTerritory : or other property of the United States; and nothing in this constitution shall be construed, so as to preclude the claims of the United States or of any state." 3. Congress possesses the power to erect territorial governments within the territory of the United States; the power of congress over such territory is exclusive and universal, and their legislation is subject to no control, unless in the case of ceded territory, as far as it may be affected by stipulations in the cessions, or by the ordinance of 1787, 3 Story's L. U. S. 2073, under which any part of it has been settled. Story on the Const. Sec. 1322; Rawle on the Const: 237; 1 Kent's Com. 243, 359; 1 Pet. S. C. Rep. 511, 542, 517. 4. The only organized territories of the United States are Oregon, Minnesota, New Mexico and Utah. Vide Courts of the United States.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Example Usage of Territory

Bill_Thomson: @miss_peg Why do I think my day just got a bit chilly - don't like the sound of that Too much angst=heart attack Territory for me LOL
stevepooch: @johnswah tj wins i end up the year in positive Territory, ahhh. how sweet it is
SteelersMobile: Super Bowl quest trumps winning streak for Colts: It is familiar Territory for the Indianapolis Colts, this fli.. http://twurl.nl/vdpcgt
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