As a general rule, the statement of the offense in the indictment in the terms and language of the statute defining it, or so plainly that the nature of the offense may be easily understood, is sufficient.12 It is not necessary, of course, that the exact words of the statute shall be used; if words of equivalent meaning are used in stating the offense, that is sufficient.13 This rule governs, however, only where the statutory definition sets out or enumerates all of the essential elements of the offense. Some statutes do not define or describe an offense; hence, reference must be had to the common law for the definition. For instance, a statute relating to the crime against nature, is as follows: The infamous crime against nature, either with man or beast, shall subject the offender to punishment by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term not more than ten years.14 This statute does not define the crime at all, but merely refers to the offense as defined by the common law. Other instances may be found in the statutes.