| 释义 |
attorney-general
†1. gen. A legal representative or deputy acting under a general commission or ‘power’ of attorney, and representing his principal in all legal matters: opposed to attorney special or attorney particular. Plural: attorneys general. Obs.
[1292Britton vi. x. §2 Touz attournez generals purrount lever fins et cirographer. (Nichols transl., All general attorneys may levy fines and make chirographs.)] 1593Shakes. Rich. II, ii. i. 203 Call in his Letters Patents that he hath By his Atturneyes generall to sue His Liuerie. 1717Blount Law Dict. s.v., Atturney General is he, who by general authority is appointed to manage all our affairs or Suits..Attorney Special or Particular is he that is imployed in one or more Causes particularly specified.
2. spec. Attorney-General, Attorney General: a legal officer of the state empowered to act in all cases in which the state is a party. In England, Isle of Man, many Commonwealth countries, and in the United States, (formerly also in Ireland), the title of the first ministerial law-officer of the government, also of his or her Majesty's attorney in the duchy of Lancaster and, historically, in the duchy of Cornwall and the county palatine of Durham (now also applied to the attorney to the Prince of Wales). Plural (better): Attorney-Generals.
The designation began in England, where this officer was at first merely the king's attorney (see above 6), called from the reign of Edward IV, ‘the king's general attorney,’ to distinguish him from those appointed to act on special occasions, or in particular courts. The descriptive designation seems to have grown into a title during the 16th c. The A.G. is now a member of the Ministry (but not of the Cabinet), and usually has a seat in the House of Commons.
1533–4Act 25 Hen. VIII, xvi. §2 The kinges generall attorney, and general Solicitour, which for the time is. 1585in Somers Tracts (1809) I. 214 Then began John Popham Esq. her Majestys Attorney-general, as followeth. 1614Selden Titles Hon. 31 Sr John Dauis Knight, his Maiesties Attorny Generall for Ireland. 1708Lond. Gaz. No. 4482/3. a 1733 North Life Bar. Guildf. (1742) 18 His admission into the Conversation of Mr. Attorney-General Palmer..proved of great use to him..For Mr. Attorney..was a very great Book Lawyer. 1812Examiner 25 May 334/1 Attorneys-General, Judges, and Hangmen. 1812L. Hunt ibid. 24 Aug. 529/1 Attorney-Generals should be restricted.
Hence, attorney-generalship.
1871Daily Tel. 6 Nov., Might have seen the Attorney-Generalship filled once more by the Member for Richmond. 1876in N. Amer. Rev. CXXIII. 384 The nomination of Mr. O'Conor as a candidate for the attorney-generalship. |