Lat. By roots or stocks; by representation. This term, derived from the civil law,.is much used in the law of descents and distribution, and de notes that method of dividing an intestate estate where a class or group of distributees take the share which their stock (a deceased ancestor) would have been entitled to, taking thus by their right of representing such ancestor, and not as so many individuals; while other heirs, who stand in equal degree with such ancestor to the decedent, take each a share equal to his. See Rotmanskey v. Heiss, 86 Md. 633, 39 Atl. 415.