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In French law. An exception or plea founded on law, which,without entering into the merits of the action, shows that the plaintiff has no right tobring it, either because the time during which it ought to have been brought haselapsed, which is called "prescription," or that there has been a compromise, accordand satisfaction, or any other cause which has destroyed the right of action which oncesubsisted. Poth. Proc. Civile, pt. 1, c. 2,