attorney

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A person legally appointed by another to act as his or her agent in the transaction of business, specifically one qualified and licensed to act for plaintiffs and defendants in legal proceedings.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One who is appointed by another to act in his place or stead; a proxy.
2. n. Specifically In law, one who is appointed or admitted in the place of another to transact any business for him. An attorney in fact, sometimes called a private attorney, is an attorney authorized to make contracts and do other acts for his principal, out of court. For this purpose a written authority is usual, but verbal authority is in general sufficient. For the performance of some acts, however, as conveyance of land, transfer of stock, etc., a formal power of attorney is necessary. An attorney at law, sometimes called a public attorney, is a person qualified to appear for another before a court of law to prosecute or defend an action on behalf of such other. The term was formerly applied especially to those practising before the supreme courts of common law, those practising in chancery being called solicitors. Under the present English system, all persons practising before the supreme courts at Westminster are called solicitors. In England attorneys or solicitors do not argue in court in behalf of their clients, this being the part of the barristers or counsel; their special functions may be defined to be: to institute actions on behalf of their clients and take necessary steps for defending them; to furnish counsel with the necessary materials to enable them to get up their pleadings; to practise conveyancing; to prepare legal deeds and instruments of all kinds; and generally to advise with and act for their clients in all matters connected with law. An attorney, whether private or public, may have general powers to act for another, or his power may be special, and limited to a particular act or acts. In the United States the term barrister is not used, the designation of a fully qualified lawyer being attorney and counselor at law. When employed simply to present a cause in court, an attorney is termed counsel. In Scotland there is no class of practitioners of the law who take the name of attorneys. See advocate, 1.
3. n. The general supervisor or manager of a plantation. [British West Indies.]
4. To perform by proxy.
5. To employ as a proxy.
6. n. The appointment of another to act in one's stead; the act of naming an attorney: now used only in the following phrase.
7. n. In United States law, the certificate of the court admitting an attorney to practise, which testifies that the attorney has qualified and taken his oath of office.

Wiktionary

1. n. US A lawyer; one who advises or represents others in legal matters as a profession.
2. n. An agent or representative authorized to act on someone else's behalf.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. obsolete A substitute; a proxy; an agent.
2. n. One who is legally appointed by another to transact any business for him; an attorney in fact.
3. n. A legal agent qualified to act for suitors and defendants in legal proceedings; an attorney at law.
4. v. obsolete To perform by proxy; to employ as a proxy.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice