fiduciary, a. and n.
(faɪˈdjuːʃ(ɪ)ərɪ)
[ad. L. fīdūciāri-us, f. fīdūcia: see fiducial and -ary. Cf. F. fiduciaire.
In Rom. Law fiducia denoted the transfer of a right to a person subject to the obligation to transfer it again at some future time or on some condition being fulfilled.]
A. adj.
1. a. Of a person: In trust of a person or thing; holding something in trust. Obs. exc. in Rom. Law.
| 1647 Bury Wills (Camden) 197, I doe acknowledge my selfe to be but a fiduciarie possessor of them vnder God. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 254 Guthrunus King of the Danes, was..setled in Northumberland as a Fiduciarie Client..to Alfred. 1788 Ld. Bulkeley in Dk. Buckhm. Crt. & Cabinets Geo. III (1853) I. 445 The Prince..in his quality of Fiduciary Regent. 1880 Muirhead Ulpian xi. §5 He who has manumitted a free person..becomes that person's tutor..and is called a fiduciary tutor. |
b. Of or pertaining to a trustee; pertaining to or of the nature of a trusteeship.
fiduciary coemption (Rom. Law): the formal purchase of a married woman, the purchaser being bound by a ‘fiducia’ to remancipate her to some one of her choice.
| 1795 Wythe Decis. Virginia 17 The Receivers possession is fiduciary. 1846 M{supc}Culloch Acc. Brit. Empire (1854) II. 159 The fiduciary system of the Roman Law, adopted by the clerical chancellors. 1863 H. Cox Instit. ii. viii. 495 note, It is not every fiduciary possession of property which constitutes a trust. 1875 Poste Gaius i. §166 Fiduciary guardianship arises when a free person..is manumitted by the alienee. 1879 Castle Law of Rating 71 The persons in actual valuable occupation of property are rateable, though they occupy in a merely fiduciary character. 1880 Muirhead Gaius i. §115 a, Fiduciary coemption was also had recourse to of old to enable a woman to make a will. |
2. a. Of a thing: In trust of a person; held or given in trust.
| a 1641 Spelman Admiral-Jurisd. (1723) 224 The High Admiral himself cannot grant it for longer than his own time, being but a Trust and fiduciary Power. 1660 G. Fleming Stemma Sacrum 41 Scotland was once acknowledged a fiduciary Kingdom to the Crown of England. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 51 Uses of land..were considered as fiduciary deposits and binding in conscience by the clergy. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) I. vi. 344 Such fiduciary estates were well known to the Roman jurists. 1884 W. S. Lilly in Contemp. Rev. Feb. 264 Christianity..regarded authority as limited and fiduciary. |
b. Of or pertaining to something held in trust.
| 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 333 The incidents, that formerly attended it [the land] in its fiduciary state. |
† 3. Of the nature of, proceeding from, or implying trust or reliance. Obs.
| 1640 Gauden Love of Truth (1641) 32 Fiduciary assurance and the like. 1640 Howell Dodona's Gr. 19 Elaiana which can relye no where upon meere love and fiduciary obedience. 1648 Eikon Bas. 80 That fiduciary and fervent application of their spirits wherein consists the very life and soul of Prayer. 1655 W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. ii. 242 The Christian, when he..hath greatest victory over it [sin], even then must he renounce all fiduciary glorying in this. a 1680 Charnock Attrib. God (1834) II. 245 It was this..edged the fiduciary importunity of the souls under the altar. |
4. Of a paper currency: Depending for its value on the confidence of the public or on securities.
| 1878 H. H. Gibbs Corres. in B. Price's Pol. Econ. 562 It is wholly impossible that a convertible Circulation of fiduciary (or security) notes should ever fall to that point [15 millions]. 1880 Manch. Guard. 25 Oct., The system of a fiduciary paper money began in Russia during the Crimean war. 1891 Pall Mall G. 3 Dec. 7/1 The fiduciary issue would then stand at 25½ millions. 1892 Daily News 13 Sept. 2/3 The fiduciary currency of the United States. 1930 M. Clark Home Trade v. xxx. 240 The {pstlg}260,000,000 of note issue is known as the fiduciary issue. 1965 Seldon & Pennance Everyman's Dict. Econ. 172 In the early 1960's the fiduciary issue stood at over {pstlg}2,200 million. |
5. Of or pertaining to a person that is trusted; confidential. rare.
| 1882 F. Anstey Vice Versâ xii. 216 Every right-minded boy ought to feel himself in such a fiduciary position towards his master. |
B. n.
1. One who holds anything in trust; a trustee.
| 1631 T. Powell Tom All Trades 11 You know they are faithfull fiduciaries in the election. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xii, Persuade the good Sir Hugh to make me his..fiduciary in this matter. |
† 2. One who identifies justifying faith with assurance of one's own salvation. Obs.
| 1654 Hammond Fundam. xiii. 120 The second obstructive..is that of the Fiduciarie..having resolved Faith to be the only instrument of his justification. 1684 T. Hockin God's Decr. 359 Some bold Fiduciaries..confidently pretend that their names are certainly written in the Book of Life. |
† 3. Something that secures confidence; credentials. Obs.
| 1593 R. Bancroft Daung. Posit. iii. xiii. 106 Let euerie of them deliuer the instructions from their Churches..together with the Fiduciary or Letters of credence. |
Hence fiˈduciarily adv. † (a) trustfully, confidingly (obs.); (b) under the conditions of a trust.
| 1653 W. Sclater Fun. Sermon (1654) 31 He really and fiduciarily intended it. 1863 H. Cox Instit. ii. viii. 497 Equity..has annexed to the fiduciary possession of property a multitude of rules in favour of the persons fiduciarily interested. |