Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A law maxim founded on inveterate custom, or borrowed from the Roman law, and accounted part of the common law.
- noun Hence An elementary principle or maxim; a short proverbial rule; a canon.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun An elementary principle or maximum; a short, proverbial rule, in law, ethics, or metaphysics.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun law A legal
principle usually expressed in Latin, traditionally used toconcisely express a wider legalconcept or rule.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word brocard.
Examples
-
VINCENTEM, ERGO VINCO TE; upon which brocard of law the professor this morning lectured.
Redgauntlet 2008
-
My father replied by that famous brocard with which he silences all unacceptable queries turning in the slightest degree upon the failings of our neighbours, — ‘If we mend our own faults, Alan, we shall all of us have enough to do, without sitting in judgement upon other folks.’
Redgauntlet 2008
-
This is something like the brocard expressed by the learned Sanchez in his work
Waverley 2004
-
Equipped with this brocard our State courts working in co-operation with juries, whose attitude usually reflected the robustiousness of American political discussion before the Civil
The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation Annotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952 Edward Samuel Corwin 1920
-
It should not happen, and does not in really great writers; but it is tempting, and is to some extent excused by the brocard about _le premier pas_.
A History of the French Novel, Vol. 1 From the Beginning to 1800 George Saintsbury 1889
-
This is something like the brocard expressed by the learned Sanchez in his work De Jure-jurando, which you have questionless consulted upon this occasion.
The Waverley 1877
-
Father Xavier wore a cassock of black chainlet, and over it a surplice, with a stole of green velvet, garnished with a gold brocard.
The Works of John Dryden Dryden, John, 1631-1700 1808
-
Pereyra ordered a coffin to be made of a precious wood, and after they had garnished it with rich China damask, they put the corpse into it, wrapping it in cloth of gold, with a pillow of brocard underneath the head.
The Works of John Dryden Dryden, John, 1631-1700 1808
-
Notwithstanding the most magnificent were made at the charges of the ambassador, he had prepared cloth of gold, ornaments for an altar of brocard pictures of devotion, in rich frames, made by the best hands of Europe, with copes and other magnificent church-stuff, all proper to represent to the Chinese the majesty of the Christian religion.
The Works of John Dryden Dryden, John, 1631-1700 1808
-
"_Societas mater discordiarum_, is a brocard as ancient and as veritable," said Oldbuck, who seemed determined, on this occasion, to be pleased with no proposal that was announced by the chair.
The Betrothed Walter Scott 1801
-
A brocard is a legal maxim in Latin that is, in a strict sense, derived from traditional legal authorities, even from ancient Rome.
Brocard (law) - Wikipedia Contributors to Wikimedia projects 2022
qms commented on the word brocard
cui bono, you sensibly ask,
When lawyers so muddle their task?
When simpler folk heard
A latin brocard
They bowed to the learned man’s mask
January 19, 2018