detinuit

DETINUIT, practice. He detained.
     2. Where an action of replevin is instituted for goods which the 
defendant had taken, but which he afterwards restored, it is said to be 
brought in the detinuit; in such case the judgment is, that the plaintiff 
recover the damages assessed by the jury for the taking and unjust 
detention, or for the latter only, where the former was justifiable, and his 
costs. 4 Bouv. Inst. n. 3562. 3. When the replevin is in the detinet, that 
he detains the goods, the jury must find in addition to the above, the value 
of the chattels, (assuming they are still detained, not in a gross sum, but 
each separate article must be separately valued, for perhaps the defendant 
may restore some of them, in which case the plaintiff is to recover the 
value of the remainder. Vide Debet et Detinet.