In the civil and com-mon law. An- action for a thing; an action for the recovery of a thing possessed by an-other, Inst. 4, 6, 1. An'action for the en-forcement of a rlght (or for redress for its Invasion) whlch was originally available against all the world, and not in any special sense against the indlvldual sued, until he violated it See In Rxx