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Glite Dictionary
sergeant-at-law

sergeant-at-law

9.9
A very senior English lawyer in the past who spoke for clients in the main royal courts
  • noun
  • /ˈsɑːdʒənt æt lɔː/
  • Archaic
: sargento de ley
  • During the medieval period, a sergeant-at-law was allowed to plead cases in the highest courts.

Examples

  • The sergeant-at-law presented a compelling argument in court.

  • Chaucer mentions a sergeant-at-law as one of the pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales.

  • He dressed as a sergeant-at-law for the historical reenactment at the old courthouse.

  • In the past, a serjeant-at-law held a prestigious position in the legal system.

  • During the medieval period, a sergeant-at-law was allowed to plead cases in the highest courts.

  • Chaucer mentions a sergeant-at-law as one of the pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales.

  • In the past, a sergeant-at-law held a prestigious position in the legal system.

Synonyms

barrister
vssergeant-at-law
  • UK
13 7.5

A lawyer who speaks for people in higher courts in Britain and Canada

is narrower, naming a specific historic senior rank with special pleading rights
pleader
vssergeant-at-law
  • Archaic
1 7.8

A lawyer who speaks in court for someone

focuses on the act of arguing cases rather than the historic senior office
serjeant
vssergeant-at-law
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A senior lawyer in old England who had the highest rank

denotes the same role but differs in traditional spelling or form
sergeant
vssergeant-at-law
  • Archaic
9.9

A former English lawyer of the highest rank who argued cases in the main civil court

is the same historic office but presented in the key concept form

Surface Forms

sergeant-at-law singular
sergeants-at-law plural

Morphology

sergeant-at-law = sergeant + law (opaque) = at + sergeant + law

Although built from 'sergeant' + 'at' + 'law', the historical legal title's specific meaning is specialized and not derivable by an average learner from the components.

Etymology

Sergeant-at-law comes from sergeant, an old word for someone who 'served', and at-law, meaning 'of the law'. So, a sergeant-at-law was a 'senior servant of the law' — a top lawyer in old England who was allowed to speak in the highest courts.