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How to Better Search for References that Define a Term

When you search for references that define a term, include words that often surround definitions. These are some of the more common terms that surround definitions:

• construe, construes, construing
• define, defined, definition
• deem, deemed
• explain, explanation, explaining
• interpret, interpretation, interpreted, interpreting
• mean, meaning, meant

For example, take the following steps to find definitions of due diligence in Connecticut court cases:

1. Click the Search tab.
2. Click the Legal source tab.
3. Click the following links in the order listed to search Connecticut state cases:
   States Legal - U.S. / Connecticut / Cases / CT State Cases, Combined
4. Click the radio button in front of Terms and Connectors.
5. Enter defin! or interpret! or constru*** or mean! or expla! or deem! or consider*** or requir! or includ! w/10 due diligence and atleast5 (due diligence) in the search field.
6. Click Search.

Depending on the term you want to define, there may be other appropriate terms to include. For example, take the following steps to find the definition of working conditions in employment cases that discuss discrete hazards as part of working conditions:

1. Click the Search tab.
2. Click the Legal source tab.
3. Click the following links in the order listed to search Labor & Employment cases:
   Area of Law - By Topic / Labor & Employment / Cases / Federal / Labor & Employment Cases, Federal 
   NOTE: Because the LexisNexis services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
4. Click the radio button in front of Terms and Connectors.
5. Enter working conditions w/10 discrete hazard in the search field.
6. Click Search.