Finding References that Define Terms or Phrases

When you search for references that define a term, include words that often surround definitions. These are some of the more common terms that surround definitions:

  • construe, construes, construing
  • define, defined, definition
  • deem, deemed
  • explain, explanation, explaining
  • interpret, interpretation, interpreted, interpreting
  • mean, meaning, meant

Use a W/10 connector to join your term or phrase with definition terms. Use an OR connector between the alternatives. Use the exclamation mark ( ! ) to find all forms of the words. Use an asterisk ( * ) to replace a letter or number in a search term.

For example, take the following steps to find definitions of due diligence in Connecticut court cases:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search Connecticut state cases:
    States Legal - U.S. / Connecticut / Find Cases / CT State Cases, Combined
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click the radio button in front of Terms and Connectors.
  5. Enter defin! or interpret! or constru*** or mean! or expla! or deem! or consider*** or requir! or includ! w/10 due diligence in the search field.
  6. Click Search.

Use the ATLEAST command (where n = the number of times you want your term to appear in the document) to limit your search to documents that contain multiple instances of your term or phrase. For example, use the FOCUS™ feature to ensure that the phrase due diligence appears at least five times in the same case. Enter the follwing terms in the FOCUS™ Terms box:

FOCUS:

defin! or interpret! or constru*** or mean! or expla! or deem! w/10 due diligence and atleast5 ( due diligence )

 

Depending on the term you want to define, there may be other appropriate terms to include. For example, take the following steps to find the definition of working conditions in employment cases that discuss discrete hazards as part of working conditions:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search Labor & Employment cases:
    Area of Law - By Topic / Labor & Employment / Find Cases / Federal / Labor & Employment Cases, Federal 
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click the radio button in front of Terms and Connectors.
  5. Enter working conditions w/10 discrete hazard in the search field.
  6. Click Search.