from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
COPULATIVE TERM. One which is placed between two or more others to join them
together: the word and is frequently used for this purpose. For example, a
man promises to pay another a certain sum of money, and to give his note for
another sum: in this case he must perform both.
2. But the copulative may sometimes be construed into a disjunctive,
(q.v.) as, when things are copulated which cannot possibly be so; for
example, "to die testate and intestate." For examples of construction of
disjunctive terms, see the cases cited at the word Disjunctive, and Ayl.
Pand. 55; 5 Com. Dig. 338; Bac. Ab. Conditions, P 5; Owen, 52; Leon. 74;
Golds. 71; Roll. Ab. 444; Cro. Jac. 594.