Star Chamber
1
9.9
- noun
- /stɑr ˈʧeɪmbər/
- UK
:
Cámara Estelar
- In the 17th century, the Star Chamber often dealt with cases that had political implications.
Examples
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The Star Chamber was notorious for its secretive trials and harsh penalties.
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"Christopher told him about the summons from the Star Chamber, what little information Henry Maunder had given him, making light of it so that Will wouldn't worry.
Fiction book (1993) -
Someone sent from the Star Chamber, then.
Fiction book (1993) -
"Is this manuscript yours?" the man from the Star Chamber asked from somewhere near his feet.
Fiction book (1993) -
Christopher stayed awake and thought about the Star Chamber meeting tomorrow, worrying about what he might say.
Fiction book (1993) -
They arrived in London by midafternoon, too late for that day's meeting of the Star Chamber.
Fiction book (1993) -
The summons to appear before the Star Chamber did not worry Christopher overmuch.
Fiction book (1993) -
Sometimes he made an appearance before the Star Chamber, but he soon stopped going daily, and the judges came not to expect him; doubtless they wanted to do their job and return to the country as soon as they could.
Fiction book (1993) -
He had not known the dangers he faced when he argued theology so heedlessly with the men of the Star Chamber.
Fiction book (1993) -
Many people feared the Star Chamber because of its ability to punish without a fair trial.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Star + chamber
Knowing 'star' (celestial body) and 'chamber' (room or legislative body) does not allow a learner to infer a historic secretive court; 'star' gives no cue to legal authority or abusive proceedings and the combination functions as a proper name for a specific institution. Because the meaning is a language- and history-specific reference rather than a compositional combination of the constituents, a B1 learner who knows the words would not be able to derive the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Star Chamber comes from an old room whose ceiling was painted with stars, so the words star and chamber point to that star-covered place. Because important trials were held there in secret and people often got harsh punishments, 'Star Chamber' now means a 'secret' or 'unfair' court.