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Magna Charta, Magna Carta|ˈmægnə ˈkɑːtə|
Also 7 pl. magna chartaes.
[med.L., signifying ‘great charter’.]
The Great Charter of English personal and political liberty, obtained from King John in 1215, repeatedly confirmed, and appealed to in all disputes between the sovereign and his subjects, till the establishment of constitutional government.
[1279Rolls of Parlt. I. 224 Quod tollatur magna carta de foribus Ecclesiarum.] 1568Grafton Chron. II. 118 This Parliament king Edwards lawes were again restored, & Magna carta confirmed. 1641Ld. J. Digby Sp. in Ho. Comm. 19 Jan. 15 An Accumulation of all the publique Grievances since Magna Carta. 1766Blackstone Comm. ii. v. 74 John was obliged to consent, by his magna carta, that [etc.]. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. v, Considered to represent the penn'orth appointed by Magna Charta.
transf. and fig.1630B. Jonson New Inn i. i, It is against my freehold, my inheritance, My Magna Charta..To drink such balderdash, or bonny-clabber. 1643Prynne Sov. Power Parl. i. (ed. 2) 22 Which you may reade in ancient Magna Chartaes. a1686T. Watson Body Divin. (1692) 460 The Covenant of Grace is our Magna Charta, by vertue of which God passeth himself over to us to be our God. 1879G. G. Scott Lect. Mediæv. Archit. II. 181, I have called the use of diagonal ribs the Magna Charta of the art of vaulting. |