from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
EMPHYTEOSIS, civil law. The name of a contract by which the owner of an
uncultivated piece of land granted it to another either in perpetuity, or
for a long time, on condition that he should: improve it, by building,
planting or cultivating it, and should pay for it an annual rent; with a
right to the grantee to alienate it, or transmit it by descent to his heirs,
and under a condition that the grantor should never re-enter as long as the
rent should be paid to him by the grantee or his assigns. Inst. 3, 25, 3. 18
Toull. n. 144.
2. This has a striking resemblance to a ground-tent. (q.v.). See
Nouveau Denisart, mot, Emphyteose; Merl. Reper. mot Emphyteose; Faber, De
jure emphyt. Definit. 36; Code, 4, 66, 1.