Search for: legalism
2821 Etymology dictionary, p. security (n.).6
The legal sense of "property in bonds" is from mid-15c.; that of "document held by a creditor as evidence of debt or property and proof of right to payment" is from …
2822 Etymology dictionary, p. seize (v.).3
… a legal term in reference to feudal property holdings or offices. Meaning "to grip with the hands or teeth" is from c. 1300; that of "to take possession by force …
2823 Etymology dictionary, p. seizure (n.).2
… possession, legally or by force," from seize + -ure. Earlier in this sense was the verbal noun seizing ( seising early 14c.). The meaning "sudden attack or onset" of an …
2824 Etymology dictionary, p. senate (n.).2
… , "the legal and administrative body of ancient Rome," from Old French senat or Latin senatus "highest council of the state in ancient Rome," literally "council …
2825 Etymology dictionary, p. sentence (n.).3
… specific legal sense "a verdict, decision in a court." It is recorded from late 14c. as "understanding, wisdom; edifying subject matter," a sense obsolete but frequent …
2826 Etymology dictionary, p. sequester (v.).3
The legal meaning "seize by authority, confiscate" is attested from 1510s. The alternative verb sequestrate is early 15c. (Chauliac), from the Latin past participle sequestratus. Related: Sequestered; sequestering .
2827 Etymology dictionary, p. sergeant (n.).6
… the legal Latin phrase serviens ad legem, "one who serves (the king) in matters of law"). It was also used of certain other officers of the royal household.
2828 Etymology dictionary, p. serve (v.).6
… . The legal sense of "present" (a writ, warrant, etc.), "give legal notice of" is from early 15c. To serve hand and foot "minister to attentively" is by c. 1300.
2829 Etymology dictionary, p. servient (adj.).2
1640s, "subordinate," from Latin servientem "subordinate," present participle of servire "be a servant, be a slave" (see serve (v.)). Compare sergeant. A 17th century word now rare or obsolete unless perhaps in legal phrases.
2830 Etymology dictionary, p. servile (adj.).3
… Church-legal, servile work being forbidden on the Sabbath. The phrase translates Latin opus servilis, itself a literal translation of the Hebrew words.
2831 Etymology dictionary, p. settlement (n.).3
The legal sense of "a settling of arrangements" (of divorce, property transfer, etc.) is from 1670s. The sense of "payment of an account, satisfaction of a claim or …
2832 Etymology dictionary, p. several (adj.).3
… of legal meanings of the word, "belonging or assigned distributively to certain individuals" (mid-15c.), etc. Also used by mid-17c. as "a vague numeral" (OED), in which …
2833 Etymology dictionary, p. severance (n.).2
… modern legal use. Severance pay attested by 1942.
2834 Etymology dictionary, p. sheriff (n.).2
… various legal and administrative duties within a jurisdiction," from late Old English scirgerefa "representative of royal authority in a shire," from scir …
2835 Etymology dictionary, p. signage (n.).2
… in legal language with reference to affixing signatures. Middle English had signance "a sign, signal, indication" (c. 1400).
2836 Etymology dictionary, p. simple (adj.).5
… additional legal stipulations, unlimited," from mid-14c.
2837 Etymology dictionary, p. sine prole.2
legal Latin, "without issue," from sine "without" (see sans ) + prole, ablative of proles "offspring" (see prolific ).
2838 Etymology dictionary, p. sist (v.).2
1640s, a Scottish legal term, "stop, stay or suspend" a proceeding, by or as if by judicial decree, from Latin sistere "to cause to stand" (see assist (v.)).
2839 Etymology dictionary, p. smart money (n.).2
… in legal use, "damages in excess of injury done."
2840 Etymology dictionary, p. solicitor (n.).3
… of legal practitioners in Britain, it is attested from 1570s. Both the fem. forms, solicitress (1630s) and solicitrix (1610s), have been in reference to women who …