Definition of Abortion

In criminal law. The miscarriage or premature delivery of a woman who is quick with child. When this is brought about with a malicious design or for an unlawful purpose, it is a crime in law. The act of bringing forth what ls yet imperfect ; and particularly the delivery or expulsion of the human foetus prematurely or before it ls yet capable of sustaining life. Also the thing prematurely brought forth or product of an untimely process. Sometimes loosely used for the offense of procuring a premature delivery; but, strictly, the early delivering is the abortion; causing or procuring abortion is the full name of the offense. Abbott; Smith v. State, 33 Me. 48, 59, 54 Am. Dec. 607; Sinte v. Crook, 16 Utah, 212, 51 Pac. 1091; Belt v. Spaulding, 17 Or. 130, 20 Pac. 827; Mills v. Commonwealth, 13 Pa. 631; Wells v. New England Mut In Ins. Co., 191 Pa. 207, 43 Atl. 126, 53 In In A. 327, 71 Am. St. Rep. 763.