Search for: legalism
2741 Etymology dictionary, p. poontang (n.).4
Putain itself entered English from French in the sense of "whore, prostitute" (c. 1300), mostly in the phrase fitz a putain "whoreson, son of a whore." Putage in old legal language meant "prostitution" (late 15c.).
2742 Etymology dictionary, p. porrect (v.).2
… ecclesiastical legal language. Related: Porrection .
2743 Etymology dictionary, p. positive (adj.).2
… a legal term meaning "formally laid down, decreed or legislated by authority" (opposed to natural ), from Old French positif (13c.) and directly from Latin positivus …
2744 Etymology dictionary, p. possess (v.).3
… a legal term first used in connection with real estate. The meaning "to hold as property" in English is recorded from c. 1500. That of "to seize, take possession …
2745 Etymology dictionary, p. possession (n.).3
The legal property sense is earliest; the demonic sense in English, "state of being under the control of evil spirits or of madness," first is recorded 1580s …
2746 Etymology dictionary, p. power (n.).2
… control; legal power or authority; authorization; military force, an army," from Anglo-French pouair, Old French povoir, noun use of the infinitive, "to be able …
2747 Etymology dictionary, p. precarious (adj.).2
1640s, a legal word, "held through the favor of another," from Latin precarius "depending on favor, pertaining to entreaty, obtained by asking or praying," from prex (genitive precis ) "entreaty, prayer" (from PIE root *prek- "to ask, entreat").
2748 Etymology dictionary, p. prejudice (n.).3
… the legal sense of "detriment or damage caused by the violation of a legal right." Meaning "preconceived opinion" (especially but not necessarily unfavorable …
2749 Etymology dictionary, p. premise (n.).3
In legal documents it meant "matter previously stated" (early 15c.), which in deeds or wills often was a description of a house or building, hence the extended meaning "house or building, with grounds" (1730).
2750 Etymology dictionary, p. prepense (adj.).3
Usually in the legal phrase malice prepense (with French word order) "wrong or injury purposefully done or planned in advance" (see malice ). This is attested from mid-15c. as malice prepensed. Related: Prepensive .
2751 Etymology dictionary, p. presenter (n.).2
mid-15c., presentour, "one who formally introduces a royal personage; one who presents or offers (a document, legal charge, etc.) for acceptance," agent noun from present (v.). The meaning "host of a radio or television program" is from 1967.
2752 Etymology dictionary, p. pretense (n.).2
… a legal right," from Anglo-French pretensse (Modern French prétense ), from Medieval Latin pretensio, noun of action from Late Latin praetensus, altered from …
2753 Etymology dictionary, p. prison (n.).3
… by legal process," the main modern sense.
2754 Etymology dictionary, p. privilege (n.).2
… " (see legal (adj.)).
2755 Etymology dictionary, p. privilege (n.).3
… . as "legal immunity or exemption."
2756 Etymology dictionary, p. privity (n.).3
From 1550s as "participation in the knowledge of something secret;" from 1520s as a legal term in feudal land tenure. Privities "private parts" is attested by late 14c.
2757 Etymology dictionary, p. prize (n.2).3
Especially of a ship captured legally at sea (1510s). The spelling with -z- is from late 16c.
2758 Etymology dictionary, p. probable (adj.).2
… a legal term, probable cause "reasonable cause or grounds" is attested from 1670s.
2759 Etymology dictionary, p. process (v.1).2
… , "begin legal action against, summon in a court of law," from French processer "to prosecute," from proces (see process (n.)). Meaning "prepare or treat by special process …
2760 Etymology dictionary, p. process (n.).2
… , development; legal trial" (13c.) and directly from Latin processus "a going forward, advance, progress," from past-participle stem of procedere "go forward" (see …