from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
ALIMONY. The maintenance or support which a husband is bound to give to his
wife upon separation from her; or the support which either father or mother
is bound to give to his or her children, though this is more usually called
maintenance.
2. The causes for granting alimony to the wife are, 1, desertion, (q.v.)
or cruelty of the husband; (q.v.) 4 Desaus. R. 79,; 1 M'Cord's Ch. R.
205; 4 Rand. R. 662; 2 J. J; Marsh. R. 324.; 1 Edw. R. 62; and 2, divorce. 4
Litt. R. 252; 1 Edw. R. 382; 2 Paige, R. 62; 2 Binn. R. 202; 3 Yeates, R.
50; S.& R. 248; 9 S.& R. 191; 3 John. Ch. R. 519; 6 John. Ch. 91.
3. In Louisiana by alimony is meant the nourishment, lodging and
support of the person who claims it. It includes education when the person
to whom alimony is due is a minor. Civil Code of L. 246.
4. Alimony is granted in proportion to the wants of the person requiring
it, and the circumstances of those who are to pay it. By the common law,
parents and children owe each other alimony. 1 Bl. Com. 447; 2 Com. Dig.
498;. 3 Ves. 358; 4 Vin. Ab. 175; Ayl. Parerg. 58; Dane's Ab. Index. h.t.;
Dig. 34, 1. 6.
5. Alimony is allowed to the wife, pendente lite, almost as a matter of
course whether she be plaintiff or defendant, for the obvious reason that
she has generally no other means of living. 1 Clarke's R. 151. But there are
special cases where it will not be allowed, as when the wife, pending the
progress of the suit, went to her father's, who agreed with the husband to
support her for services. 1 Clarke's R. 460. See Shelf. on Mar. and Div.
586; 2 Toull. n. 612.