Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur sententia

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The legal maxim "Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur sententia" (/aed proksamam abntasiydenz fayaet raleysh(iy)ow naysay impiydiyeytar sentensh(iy)a/) means that the relative words refer to the nearest antecedent, unless it be prevented by the context. (Black's Law Dictionary, 4th Ed., 57, citing Brown vs. Brown, Del., 3 Terry 157, 29 A.2d 149,153.)