‖ Areopagus
(æriːˈɒpəgəs)
[L., a. Gr. ἄρειος πάγος the hill of Ares, or Mars' hill.]
A hill at Athens where the highest judicial court of the city held its sittings; hence used for the court itself, and transf. of any important tribunal.
| 1642 Sir E. Dering Sp. on Relig. xvi. 86 Who hath descended into this Areopagus [of polemics]? a 1670 Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) ii. §159. 169 And therefore, my H. Lordships, here I have fixt my Areopagus, and dernier Resort, being not like to make any further Appeal. 1900 Daily News 28 Apr. 5/3 A permanent areopagus has been created, with fixed arbitrators, secretaries, &c. 1919 tr. Von Tirpitz's Mem. I. xvi. 249 The European ‘areopagus’ (as Bethmann called it), proposed by Grey, ought not to have been refused. 1920 Q. Rev. Apr. 475 The Commission of Reparations, whose duty it should be to become a..Rhadamanthine Areopagus. |