1. a rule that when literal compliance is impossible the intention of a donor or testator should be carried out as nearly as possible; [syn: cy pres, rule of cy pres, cy pres doctrine]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
cy pres doctrine
n 1: a rule that when literal compliance is impossible the
intention of a donor or testator should be carried out as
nearly as possible [syn: cy pres, rule of cy pres, cy
pres doctrine]