man-of-law arch.
[Cf. F. homme de loi and lawman.]
A man skilled in law; a lawyer.
| 1340, c 1386 [see law n.1 7]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 325/2 Manne of law, jurisperitus, scriba. 1491 Acta Dom. Concil. (1839) 206/2 Dauid balfour of carraldstoune wes man of law for o{supr} said Souerane lord in þe said mater. 1530 Palsgr. 500/1 Whan a man of lawe maketh a reason peremtorie, it can nat be contrepleted. 1582 Bentley Mon. Matrones ii. 28 O Jesus Christ,..thou being my man of law, didst excuse and speake for me. 1636 Massinger Bashf. Lover i. i, He..pays his fees as duly As ever Usurer did in a bad cause, To his man of law. 1841 R. P. Ward De Clifford II. xvi. 172 Another man of law..now came in, straight from the magistrates' chamber. 1899 Crockett Kit Kennedy 251 Ebenezer Fleming, W. S., was a wary man-of-law. |