Search for: legalism
2361 Etymology dictionary, p. adopt (v.).3
Originally in English of friends, fathers, citizens, etc., as well as children. The specific sense of "to legally take as one's own child" and that of "to embrace, espouse" a practice, method, etc. are from c. 1600. Related: Adopted; adopting .
2362 Etymology dictionary, p. advance (v.).4
… is legally due" is attested by 1670s. Related: Advanced; advancing. The adjective (in advance warning, etc.) is recorded from 1843.
2363 Etymology dictionary, p. advocation (n.).2
… of legal assistance," 1520s, from Latin advocationem (nominative advocatio ) "a calling or summoning of legal assistance," in Medieval Latin "duty of defense …
2364 Etymology dictionary, p. ae.2
… ; hence "legal custom, marriage," from Proto-Germanic *aiwi- (cognate with Old High German ewa, Old Saxon eo ), according to Buck probably literally "way, manner, custom …
2365 Etymology dictionary, p. affiliate (v.).2
1761, "bring into close association," from Latin affiliatus, past participle of affiliare "to adopt a son," from ad "to" (see ad- ) + filius "son" (see filial ). Outside legal use, always figurative. Related: Affiliated; affiliating .
2366 Etymology dictionary, p. affirm (v.).3
The spelling was refashioned 16c. in French and English on the Latin model. The legal sense of "declare solemnly (as before a court) but without an oath" is from early 15c. Related: Affirmed; affirming .
2367 Etymology dictionary, p. aforesaid (adj.).2
"mentioned before in a preceding part of the same writing or speech," a common legal word, late 14c., from afore + said .
2368 Etymology dictionary, p. aforethought (adj.).2
"premeditated," a legal word, 1580s, from afore + past tense of think. Apparently an English loan-translation of the Old French legalese word prepense (see prepense ) in the phrase malice prepense "malice aforethought" (Coke).
2369 Etymology dictionary, p. aggrieved (adj.).2
c. 1300, "annoyed, incensed, resentful, angry;" late 14c., "oppressed in spirit," past-participle adjective from aggrieve (v.). The legal sense of "injured or wronged in one's rights" is from 1580s.
2370 Etymology dictionary, p. a.k.a..2
also a k a, aka, initialism (acronym) for also known as; attested in legal documents by 1935.
2371 Etymology dictionary, p. alienation (n.).3
… U.S. legal term in divorce cases for "falling in love with someone else" dates to 1861.
2372 Etymology dictionary, p. -ality.2
… , loyalty / legality .
2373 Etymology dictionary, p. allegation (n.).2
… (non-legal) use, since 17c., often suggesting an assertion without proof.
2374 Etymology dictionary, p. allegiance (n.).2
… -obsolete legal term allegeance "alleviation, mitigation" (for which see allay (v.)). The general figurative sense of "recognition of claims to respect or duty …
2375 Etymology dictionary, p. allocate (v.).2
… . in legal use.
2376 Etymology dictionary, p. amendment (n.).2
… a legal process" (c. 1600) and "alteration of a writ or bill" to remove its faults (1690s).
2377 Etymology dictionary, p. amerce (v.).2
… ). The legal phrase estre a merci "to be at the mercy of" (a tribunal, etc.) was corrupted to estre amercié, a good example of how an adverbial phrase in legalese tends …
2378 Etymology dictionary, p. Anglo-French (n.).2
the form of Old French written in England from the Norman Conquest (1066) through the Middle Ages; the administrative and legal language of England 12c.-17c.; the name is attested from 1887 and was popularized, if not coined, by Skeat.
2379 Etymology dictionary, p. anomic (adj.).3
Also attested from 1919 in a sense "non-legal."
2380 Etymology dictionary, p. anti-choice (adj.).2
also antichoice, by 1978, American English, in reference to opposition to legalized abortion; from anti- + choice (n.). Compare pro-life .