justiciar

English

Etymology

From Late Latin justitiarius and justiciarius (“justiciar, judge, justice [of the peace]; judiciary, related to justice”), from Latin iūstitia (“justice”) + -āria (“-ary”). As a translation of various Continental European offices, via Middle French justicier, Spanish justiciero, justicia mayor, &c.

Noun

justiciar (plural justiciars)

1. (historical) One who administers justice, particularly:
   1. (historical) A high-ranking judicial officer of medieval England or Scotland.
   2. (historical) A justice: a high-ranking judge.
   3. (historical) A Chief Justiciar: the highest political and judicial officer of the Kingdom of England in the 12th and 13th centuries.
   4. (historical) Various equivalent medieval offices elsewhere in Europe.
2. (Christianity, theology, rare) A justiciary: a believer in the doctrine (or heresy) that adherence to religious law redeems mankind before God.

Synonyms

• (One who administers justice generally): justicer, justiciary
• (A high-ranking judicial officer of medieval England): justiciary
• (A judge of a superior court): See justice
• (The chief judicial officer of medieval England): justiciary, Chief Justiciary, Capital Justiciary; Chief Justiciar, Capital Justiciar
• (Proponent of a theological doctrine): See legalist

Derived terms

• Capital Justiciar
• Chief Justiciar
• justiciarship

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed. "judiciar, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2013.