from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
ISSINT. This is a Norman French word which signifies thus, so. It has given
the name to a part of a plea, because when pleas were in that language this
word was used. In actions founded on deeds, the defendant may, instead of
pleading non est factum in the common form, allege any special matter which
admits the execution of the writing in question, but which, nevertheless,
shows that it is not in law his deed; and may conclude with and so it is not
his deed; as that the writing was delivered to A B as an escrow, to be
delivered over on certain conditions, which have not been complied with,
"and so it is not his act;" or that at, the time of making the writing, the
defendant was a feme covert,: and so it is not her act." Bac. Ab. Pleas, H
3, I 2; Gould on Pl. c. 6, part 1, Sec. 64.
2. An example of this form of plea which is sometimes called the
special general issue, occurs in 4 Rawle, Rep. 83, 84.