justicer
(ˈdʒʌstɪsə(r))
Forms: 4–5 iustyser, 5 -icer, -ycer, 5–6 -iser, -icere, 5–7 -icier, 7– justicer.
[prob. orig. AF. form of OF. justicier (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), = med.L. jūstitiārius, and thus orig. the etymological equivalent of justiciar, justiciary; but commonly used in a less technical sense as agent-noun from justice v.: cf. OF. justiceor, -eur (in nom. case justiciere), agent-n. of justicier vb., of which also the Eng. form would be at length justicer.]
1. One who maintains or executes justice; a supporter or vindicator of right. arch.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 2221 Ne he couþe be no iustyser. 1474 Caxton Chesse 14 That afterward was a good prynce and a good iusticier. c 1500 Melusine 97 They said that the kyng had doo right wel as a valyaunt & lawfull iustiser shuld doo. 1585 Foxe Serm. 2 Cor. v. 72 So it pleased the gracious goodnesse of our mercifull God..to become now of a terrible Iusticer, a tender father toward us. 1624 Heywood Gunaik. iv. 179 That inhumane rashnesse..by which men have undertooke to be their owne justicers. 1848 Kingsley Saint's Trag. v. iii, We are Heaven's justicers! Our woes anoint us kings! 1869 Ld. Lytton Orval 79 (Draws his dagger) Out, thou sharp Straightforward justicer! |
2. An administrator of justice. † a. In general sense: A ruler or governor invested with judicial authority. Obs. b. One who administers justice in a court of law; a judge, magistrate. arch.
| 1481 Caxton Godfrey 29 They made in euery kynred or lygnage a prince whiche was theyr Iusticer. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres v. i. 145 As high and supreame Iusticer of all the Army. 1605 Shakes. Lear iii. vi. 25 Come sit thou here, most learned Iusticer. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. vi. 17 As it were chief Justicer amongst the Mahometans. 1799 W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. XXVIII. 513 The Corsican barristers claim that all the justicers..shall be native and resident Corsicans. 1803 ― in Ann. Rev. I. 438 His subdivided schedules of contents..trace the bounds of their parish sovereignties, and note whether the presiding justicer be entitled a prince, a baronet, or an esquire. 1871 Rossetti Poems, Dante at Verona liii, They named him Justicer-at-Law. |
† c. transf. A judge, critic. Obs.
| 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xxv. v. 271 If some severe Censor and precise Iusticer blame this act. 1612–15 Bp. Hall Contempl., O.T. xv. v, How severe Justicers wee can bee to our very owne crimes in others persons? |
3. spec. = justice 9, justiciary n.1 1, 2. arch.
| 1535 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. v. §1 The said Iusticers..shal be sworne astricted and obliged to the kepinge of their sessions of the peace. 1567 Harman Caveat 21 Thereby the Justicers..may in their circutes be more vygelant to punish these malefactores. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. iii. vi. §34 As for the civil government of Jews in England, the King set over them one principal Officer, called the Justicer of the Jews. 1700 Tyrrell Hist. Eng. II. 1113 The chief Justicers, or Justicers in Eyre in their Circuits. 1880 Daily Tel. 22 Nov., John Fineux, Chief Justicer to King Henry VIII. |