Rule 106. Words and Phrases

(a) Words and phrases shall be construed according to rules of grammar and according to their common and approved usage; but technical words and phrases and such others as have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning or as are expressly defined by rule shall be construed according to such peculiar and appropriate or express meaning or definition.

(b) General words shall be construed to take their meanings and be restricted by preceding particular words.

Comment. A word or phrase’s common meaning may be discerned through examination of its dictionary definition and its legal meaning may be gleaned from its use in the corpus juris. See Commonwealth v. Wardlaw , 249 A.3d 937, 946-47 (Pa. 2021).