Defn: An action at law; a suit in equity or admiralty; any legal proceeding before a court for the enforcement of a claim.
LAWYER
Law"yer, n. Etym: [From Law, like bowyer, fr.bow.]
1. One versed in the laws, or a practitioner of law; one whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients, or to advise as to prosecution or defence of lawsuits, or as to legal rights and obligations in other matters. It is a general term, comprehending attorneys, counselors, solicitors, barristers, sergeants, and advocates.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The black-necked stilt. See Stilt. (b) The bowfin (Amia calva). (c) The burbot (Lota maculosa).
LAWYERLIKE; LAWYERLY
Law"yer*like`, Law"yer*ly, a.
Defn: Like, or becoming, a lawyer; as, lawyerlike sagacity. "Lawyerly mooting of this point." Milton.
LAX
Lax, a. [Compar. Laxer; superl. Laxest.] Etym: [L. laxus Cf. Laches,
Languish, Lease, v. t., Leash.]
1. Not tense, firm, or rigid; loose; slack; as, a lax bandage; lax fiber. The flesh of that sort of fish being lax and spongy. Ray.
2. Not strict or stringent; not exact; loose; weak; vague; equivocal.
The discipline was lax. Macaulay.
Society at that epoch was lenient, if not lax, in matters of the
passions. J. A. Symonds.
The word "æternus" itself is sometimes of a lax signification.
Jortin.
3. Having a looseness of the bowels; diarrheal.