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Webster 1913 Edition
Quorum
Quo′rum
(kwō′rŭm)
, Noun.
[L., of whom, gen. pl. of
qui
who, akin to E. who
. See the Note below.] Such a number of the officers or members of any body as is competent by law or constitution to transact business;
as, a
quorum
of the House of Representatives; a constitutional quorum
was not present.☞ The term arose from the Latin words, Quorum aliquem vestrum . . . unum esse volumus (of whom we wish some one of you to be one), which were used in the commission formerly issued to justices of the peace in England, by which commission it was directed that no business of certain kinds should be done without the presence of one or more of certain justices specially designated. Justice of the peace and of the quorum designates a class of justices of the peace in some of the United States.
Webster 1828 Edition
Quorum
QUO'RUM
,Noun.
1.
A bench of justices, or such a number of officers or members as is competent by law or constitution to transact business; as a quorum of the house of representatives. A constitutional quorum was not present.2.
A special commission of justices.