justiciary

English

Etymology

From Late Latin justitiaria, justiciaria (“judgeship, judiciarship; court sessions”), justitiarius, and justiciarius (“justiciar, judge, justice [of the peace]; judiciary, related to justice”), all from Latin iūstitia (“justice”) + -āria (“-ary”). Paralleled in Middle English and Early Modern English by forms from Anglo-Norman justiserie (“judgeship, judiciarship”), from Anglo-Norman and Middle French justicerie (“judgeship; tribunal”), from justice + -ery. As a translation of various Continental European offices, via Middle French justicier, Spanish justiciero, etc.

Noun

justiciary (countable and uncountable, plural justiciaries)

1. (Scotland, countable, chiefly historical) A judgeship: a judge's jurisdiction, power, or office.
2. (originally Scotland, uncountable) The judiciary: a collective term for the court system or the body of judges, justices etc.
3. (historical) One who administers justice, particularly:
   1. (historical) A judge or justice.
   2. (historical) A magistrate.
   3. (historical) A Chief Justiciar: the highest political and judicial officer of the Kingdom of England in the 12th and 13th centuries.
   4. (historical) A justiciar: a high-ranking judicial officer of medieval England or Scotland.
   5. (historical) Various equivalent medieval offices elsewhere in Europe.
4. (Christianity, theology) A believer in the doctrine (or heresy) that adherence to religious law redeems mankind before God.

Synonyms

• (The jurisdiction, power, or office of a judge): See judgeship
• (The collective body of judges): See judiciary
• (One who administers justice): justicer, justiciar
• (A judge): See judge
• (The chief judicial officer of medieval England): See judiciar
• (Proponent of a theological doctrine): See legalist

Derived terms

• Capital Justiciary
• Chief Justiciary
• Circuit Court of Justiciary
• Commissioner of Justiciary, Lord Commissioner of Justiciary
• Court of Justiciary, High Court of Justiciary
• High Court of Justiciary
• justiciaryship
• Lord of Justiciary

Translations

officer

• Latin: iūstitiārius m

Adjective

justiciary (comparative more justiciary, superlative most justiciary)

1. (Christianity, theology, obsolete) Of or relating to justification or redemption before God.
2. (Christianity, theology, obsolete) Of or relating to the doctrine (or heresy) that adherence to religious law redeems mankind before God.
3. Judicial: of or relating to the administration of justice, judges, or judgeships.
4. Of or relating to the High Court of Justiciary.
5. Of or relating to a circuit court held by one of the judges of the High Court of Justiciary.

Synonyms

• (theological senses): See legalist
• (judicial): See judicial

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed. "judiciary, n.¹", "judiciary, n.²", "judiciary, adj.¹", & "judiciary, adj.²". Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2013.