释义 |
prosecutor|ˈprɒsɪkjuːtə(r)| [a. med.L. prōsecūtor, agent-n. f. prōsequ-ī to prosecute.] 1. One who follows up or carries out any action, project, or business.
1599Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 83 These Iesuites..endeavour..to imbreed that fiercenesse and obstinacie in their schollers, as to make them hote prosecutors of their owne opinions. 1632Spelman Hist. Sacrilege (1698) 193 The Lord Cromwel was conceived to be the principal mover, and prosecutor thereof. †2. A pursuer. Obs.
1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 75 Shooting forth their darts, one against the front of the enemy, and the other against the prosecutors and followers. 1741Compl. Fam.-Piece ii. i. 299 He is observed to take her Measures from her Prosecutors, well knowing that she can out-run the Dogs at Pleasure. 3. One who institutes and carries on proceedings in a court of law, esp. in a criminal court. (In quot. 1670 = promoter 3.) public prosecutor, a law officer appointed to conduct criminal prosecutions on behalf of the crown or state or in the public interest: spec. in Scotland, the Procurator fiscal in each county, etc.; the single officer recently appointed with this function in England is officially styled Director of public prosecutions: see prosecution 5 d.
1670Blount Law Dict., Prosecutor, is he that followeth a Cause in an others name. See Promooters. 1765[see prosecution 5]. 1769― Ibid. IV. xxvii. 362 On a conviction of larceny in particular, the prosecutor shall have restitution of his goods. 1783W. Gordon tr. Livy's Rom. Hist. (1823) III. lvi. 282 Virginius was pitched on as the first prosecutor. 1839Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) XIX. 759/2 (Scotland) There seems little doubt but that in early times the king was public prosecutor... In process of time..this office of public prosecutor naturally devolved upon the crown counsel. The principal of these is the lord advocate. Ibid. 760/1 The procurators fiscal of the county and burgh courts, who are the public prosecutors in their respective districts, may also be regarded as deputies of the lord advocate. 1848Wharton Law Lex., Public prosecutor, the Queen, in whose name criminals are prosecuted, because all offences are said to be against the Queen's peace, her Crown, and dignity. 1877E. Robertson in Encycl. Brit. VI. 590/2 The distinguishing feature of Scotch criminal law is the existence of a public prosecutor. 1907Expositor Feb. 187 Among them appears the Satan, a sort of Prosecutor General. †4. One who prosecutes with malice; a persecutor. Obs.
1704Clarendon's Hist. Reb. III. Ded. 10 His malicious Prosecutors afterwards scandalized him, as being the Author of such Counsels. Hence ˈprosecutorship, the office of a (public) prosecutor.
1870Echo 8 Dec., Mr. E. W. C― has been appointed to the Senior Crown Prosecutorship of County Mayo. |