(A) General rule. Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, or ordinary and usual sense. However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This municipal code as modified by amendment, revision, and adoption of new titles, chapters, or sections.
COUNCIL. The town council of the Town of Middletown, Rhode Island.
COUNTY. Newport County, Rhode Island.
JOINT AUTHORITY. All words giving a joint authority to three or more persons or officers shall be
construed as giving such authority to a majority of such persons or officers
KEEPER and PROPRIETOR. Includes persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs and copartnerships, whether acting by themselves or as a servant, agent or employee.
LAND, REAL ESTATE. Includes rights and easements of corporeal nature.
OR, AND. "Or" may be read "and," and "and" may be read "or," if the sense requires it.
OWNER. As applied to any property includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or of a part of such property.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively. R.I. Gen. Laws.
PROPERTY. Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
REAL PROPERTY. Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
R.I. GEN. LAWS. The 1956 General Laws of Rhode Island as amended through the most recent session of the Rhode Island General Assembly.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
SIDEWALK. That part of the street exclusively reserved for pedestrians and constructed for such purpose.
STATE. The state of Rhode Island.
STREET. Includes any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, lane, viaduct, bridge and the approaches thereto within the town and shall mean and include the entire width thereof between the abutting property lines.
SUBCHAPTER. A division of a chapter,
designated in this code by a heading in the body of the chapter, setting apart a group of sections related by the subject matter of the heading. Not all chapters have subchapters.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. As applied to a building or land, includes any person holding a written or oral lease of or who occupies, the whole or a part of such building or land, either alone or with others.
TIME. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.
TOWN, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION or MUNICIPALITY. The Town of Middletown, Rhode Island.
WRITTEN. Includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed; equivalent to the words YEAR OF OUR LORD.
(73 Code, § 1-2)