Wrong

An injury; a tort a violation of right. In its most usual sense, wrong signifies an injury committed to the person or property of another, or to his relative rights, unconnected with contract; and these wrongs are committed with or without force. But in a more extended signification, wrong includes the violation of a contract; a failure by a man to perform his undertaking or promise is a wrong or injury to him to whom it was made.

Wrongs are divided into public and private. 1. A public wrong is an act which is injurious to the public generally, commonly known by the name of crime, misdemeanor, or offence, and it is punishable in various ways, such as indictments, summary proceedings, and upon conviction by death, imprisonment, fine, etc. 2. Private wrongs, which are injuries to individuals, unaffecting the public: these are redressed by actions for damages, etc.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.