‖ ad litem Law.
(æd ˈlaɪtɛm)
[L.]
For a lawsuit or action (applied esp. to a guardian appointed for such a purpose).
| 1768 W. Blackstone Commentaries on Laws of England iii. xxvii. 427 The court of exchequer can only appoint a guardian ad litem, to manage the defence of the infant if a suit be commenced against him. 1838 [see guardian 2 b]. 1883 Lord Coleridge in Law Rep. Queen's Bench Div. XI. 252 Guardians ad litem are relieved from the duty of answering interrogatories. 1959 Jowitt Dict. Eng. Law I. 884/1 A guardian ad litem is a person appointed to defend an action or other proceeding on behalf of an infant..or a lunatic or idiot not so found..who is defendant or respondent to a proceeding in the court. 1961 Lancet 12 Aug. 366/1 The husband, by the Official Solicitor as his guardian ad litem, denied the allegation. |