72d CONGRESS . SESS. 11. CH. 128 . FEBRUARY 27, 1933 . CR OSS R 1 :FFaE NCEs Technical words, how construed, see sections 361 and 556 .
Post, pp . 1173, 1198 . Construction of words in contracts, see sections 555 and 556 .
Post, p . 1198 . SEC . 12. WORDS ; DEFINITION ; SIGNIFICATION OF WORDS .-Words used Definition
significa- in this code in the present tense include the future as well as the lion present ; words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter ; the singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular ; the word person includes a corporation as well as a natural person ; writing includes printing and typewriting ; oath incl udes aff irmat ion or d ecla rati on
- and every mode of oral statement,
under oath or affirmation, is embraced by the term " testify ", and every wri tten 'on e in the ter m "depose"; signature or subscription includes mark, when the person can not write, his name being written near it, by a person who writes his own name as a witness
- provided,
that when a signature is by mark it must in order that the same may be ackn owledged or may serve as the signature to any sworn statement be witnessed by two persons who must subscribe their own names as witnesses thereto . The following words have in this code the signification attached to them in this section, unless otherwise apparent from the context 1. The word " property " includes property real and personal ; 2 . The words "real property" are coextensive with lands, tene- ments, and hereditaments ; 3 . The words " personal property " include money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt ; 4. The word " month " means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed ; 5. The word " w il l " includes codicil . SEC . 13. NOTICE, ACTUAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE .-Notice is :
Noti ce . 1 . Actual-which consists in express information of a fact ; or,
Acti ve . 2. Constructive-which is imputed by law .
Constructive. SEC . 14. CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE, WHEN DEEM ED . -Eve ry person who has actual notice of circumstances sufficient to put a prudent man upon inquiry as to a particular fact, has constructive notice of the fact itself in all cases in which, by prosecuting such inquiry, he might have learned such fact . CHAPTER 2 .-PERSONS SECTION 15. MINORS, WHO AM-Minors are all persons under twenty-one years of age : Provided, That this section shall be subject to the provisions of chapters 4 to 6 of this code and shall not be construed as repealing or limiting the provisions of section 148 : Provided, further, That upon the lawful marriage of any female of the age of eighteen years or over but under the age of twenty-one years, such female shall be deemed an adult person for the purpose of entering into any engagement or transaction respecting property or any contract, the same as if such person were over twenty-one years of age . SEC. 16. PERIODS OF MINORITY, HOW CA LCUL ATED .-Th e pe riod s specified in section 15 must be calculated from the first minute of the day on Wh ich pers ons are born to the sam e mi nute of the corresponding day completing the period of minority . SEC . 17. AD ULT S, WHO ARE.-All other persons are adults . SEC. 18. UNBORN CHILD .-A child conceived, but not yet born, is to be deemed an existing person, so far as may be necessary for its interests in the event of its subsequent birth . PERSONS . Minors . Provisos . Construction . Post, p . 1143. Married females, of 18to21 years. 1125 Calculation of periods of minority. Adults . Unborn child, status .
