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Webster 1913 Edition


Lawyer

Law′yer

,
Noun.
[From
Law
, like
bowyer
, fr.
bow
.]
1.
One versed in the laws, or a practitioner of law; one whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients, or to advise as to prosecution or defence of lawsuits, or as to legal rights and obligations in other matters. It is a general term, comprehending attorneys, counselors, solicitors, barristers, sergeants, and advocates.
2.
(Zool.)
(a)
The black-necked stilt. See
Stilt
.
(b)
The bowfin (
Amia calva
).
(c)
The burbot (
Lota maculosa
).

Webster 1828 Edition


Lawyer

LAW'YER

,
Noun.
[that is lawer, contracted from law-wer, law-man.]
One versed in the laws, or a practitioner of law; one whose profession is to institute suits in courts of law, and to prosecute or defend the cause of clients. this is a general term, comprehending attorneys, counselors, solicitors, barristers, serjeants and advocates.

Definition 2024


Lawyer

Lawyer

See also: lawyer

English

Proper noun

Lawyer

  1. A male given name

lawyer

lawyer

See also: Lawyer

English

Alternative forms

Noun

lawyer (plural lawyers)

  1. A professional person qualified (as by a law degree and/or bar exam) and authorized to practice law, i.e. conduct lawsuits and/or give legal advice.
    • 1907, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “chapter II”, in The Younger Set (Project Gutenberg; EBook #14852), New York, N.Y.: A. L. Burt Company, published 1 February 2005 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 4241346:
      His forefathers had been, as a rule, professional menphysicians and lawyers; his grandfather died under the walls of Chapultepec Castle while twisting a tourniquet for a cursing dragoon; an uncle remained indefinitely at Malvern Hill; [].
  2. By extension, a legal layman who argues points of law.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Verb

lawyer (third-person singular simple present lawyers, present participle lawyering, simple past and past participle lawyered)

  1. (informal, intransitive) To practice law.
  2. (intransitive) To perform, or attempt to perform, the work of a lawyer.
  3. (intransitive) To make legalistic arguments.
  4. (informal, transitive) To barrage (a person) with questions in order to get them to admit something.
    You've been lawyered!

Related terms

Anagrams

References

  1. Oxford English Dictionary. "Lawyer, n."