Words and Phrases aims at providing the definition of words and phrases as interpreted by cases from 1658 to the present time.

• A. From 1658 to the present time
• B. Only modern cases after 1950
• C. Only dictionary definitions
• D. Only statutes

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is that the definitions in Words and Phrases come from judicial interpretations stretching from a historical starting point to the present. This reference gathers meanings as they have been defined by courts, tracing how a term has been understood over time, beginning with decisions dating back to 1658 and continuing up to today. That long historical scope is what makes it a living record of how words and phrases are actually used in law, not just a snapshot of modern usage.

So the best answer is that range—from 1658 to the present time—because it captures the intended method: definitions are drawn from case law across centuries, reflecting evolution in interpretation. It isn’t limited to modern cases after 1950, it isn’t based solely on dictionary definitions, and it isn’t restricted to statutes.