Search for: legalism
2441 Etymology dictionary, p. competence (n.).3
Meaning "adequate range of capacity or ability, sufficiency to deal with what is at hand" is from 1790. Legal sense "capability or fitness to be heard in court" is from 1708.
2442 Etymology dictionary, p. complainant (n.).2
… a legal action against another, one who makes a formal complaint in court," from Old French complaignant, present participle of complaindre (see complain …
2443 Etymology dictionary, p. concubinage (n.).2
… without legal marriage," from Old French concubinage, from concubin, from Latin concubina (see concubine ). In ancient Roman law, "a permanent cohabitation between …
2444 Etymology dictionary, p. condominium (n.).3
A word in politics and international law until sense of "privately owned apartment" arose in American English 1962 as a special use of the legal term.
2445 Etymology dictionary, p. condone (v.).3
… a legal term in the Matrimonial Causes Act, which made divorce a civil matter in Britain (see condonation ). General sense of "tolerate, sanction" is by 1962. Related …
2446 Etymology dictionary, p. confirm (v.).2
… a legal act," from Old French confermer (13c., Modern French confirmer ) "strengthen, establish, consolidate; affirm by proof or evidence; anoint (a king)," from Latin …
2447 Etymology dictionary, p. consensual (adj.).3
… to legal contracts and to the eyes working together reflexively; its sense was extended in the language of sociology and psychology from 1950s (of social …
2448 Etymology dictionary, p. consenting (adj.).2
"agreeing, giving consent," c. 1300, present-participle adjective from consent (v.). Consenting adults is attested by 1955, originally in reference to legalizing private homosexuality.
2449 Etymology dictionary, p. consent (n.).3
In Middle English sometimes in a negative sense, "yielding (to sinful desire); connivance." Age of consent, at which one's consent to certain acts is legally valid, is attested from 1650s.
2450 Etymology dictionary, p. constable (n.).4
Meaning "an officer chosen to serve minor legal process" is from c. 1600, transferred to "police officer" by 1836. French reborrowed constable 19c. as "English police."
2451 Etymology dictionary, p. construe (v.).3
Specific sense in law, "to explain or interpret for legal purposes," is from 1580s. Compare construction and construct (v.), which is a later doublet. Related: Construed; construing; construal .
2452 Etymology dictionary, p. construction (n.).3
… a legal document" which endures in parliamentary language ("What construction do you put on this clause?"); also compare constructionist .
2453 Etymology dictionary, p. constructionist (n.).2
… a legal document" sense + -ist. Usually with strict or loose; the former prefers exact and strict interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution.
2454 Etymology dictionary, p. contest (v.).3
… a legal combat. Meaning "make a subject of contention or dispute, enter into competition for" is from 1610s. Sense of "to argue in opposition, call into question …
2455 Etymology dictionary, p. conversation (n.).3
… , a legal term for adultery from late 18c. Conversation-piece is from 1712 as "painting representing a group of figures arranged as if in conversation;" 1784 …
2456 Etymology dictionary, p. conveyance (n.).2
… is legally conveyed" is from 1570s; sense "means of transportation" is attested from 1590s. Related: Conveyancer; conveyancing (n.). The Old French abstract noun …
2457 Etymology dictionary, p. corporate (adj.).2
… a legal corporation," as a number of individuals empowered to do business as an individual, in early use often of municipalities, from Latin corporatus, past …
2458 Etymology dictionary, p. corporation (n.).3
Meaning "legally authorized entity, artificial person created by law from a group or succession of persons" (such as municipal governments and modern business companies) is from 1610s.
2459 Etymology dictionary, p. corroborate (v.).2
… give (legal) confirmation to," from Latin corroboratus, past participle of corroborare "to strengthen, invigorate," from assimilated form of com "with, together …
2460 Etymology dictionary, p. counsel (n.).2
… gives legal counsel," attested late 14c.