lawyer English · revision 4012

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1377|origins=en law}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈlɔɪ.ə/, /ˈlɔː.jə/, US /ˈlɑː.jɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|lawiere]], lauier, lawere,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) formed from Middle English lawe “law” and -iere,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) that is, from [[law]] and [[-yer]].^(SOED 2002) The spelling with y is first recorded in 1611 and prevailed from the 17th century.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One versed in the law, a member of the legal profession: 1377 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and 1383, in Wycliffe, in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) As a surname it is recorded from the mid-14th century (1336).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English had lahwita, with wita “sage, adviser”,^(Etymonline) and an earlier Middle English word was man-of-law (mid-14th century).^(Etymonline) In the New Testament (Luke 14:3) a lawyer is an interpreter of the Mosaic law (1526).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In Scots it meant a professor of law (1567).^(OED 1989) In dialect, and in New Zealand of certain creeping plants, a lawyer is a long bramble, from its clinging hold (1857),^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898) and the ''Penang lawyer'' is a walking stick made from a dwarf palm (1828).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1336 – as a surname.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1377 – a legal practitioner.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1526 – an expounder of Mosaic law.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1611 – the spelling with y.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1828 – ''Penang lawyer''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1857 – a bramble, in dialect.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person whose profession is to give legal advice and to represent clients in court or other legal matters; an [[attorney]] or [[solicitor]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lawyerly]]

+ * [[lawyerlike]]

+ * [[nonlawyer]]

+ * [[underlawyer]]

+ * [[lawyering]]

+ * [[barracks lawyer]]

+ * [[criminal lawyer]]

+ * [[Philadelphia lawyer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[law]]

+ * [[attorney]]

+ * [[solicitor]]

+ * [[barrister]]

+ * [[counsel]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lawyer is the general term for one authorized to give legal advice and plead cases; the American Heritage distinguishes it from attorney, counselor, counsel, barrister and solicitor.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}