from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
COMMON INTENT, construction. The natural sense given to words.
2. It is a rule that when words are used which will bear a natural
sense and an artificial one, or one to be made out by argument and
inference, the natural sense shall prevail; it. is simply a rule of
construction and not of addition common intent cannot add to a sentence
words which have been omitted. 2 H. Black. 530. In pleading, certainty is
required, but certainty to a common intent is sufficient; that is, what
upon a reasonable construction may be called certain, without recurring to
possible facts. Co. Litt. 203, a; Dougl. 163. See Certainty.