chancery

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Law A court of chancery.
2. n. Law The proceedings and practice of a court of chancery; equity.
3. n. Law A court of public record; an office of archives.
4. n. Law One of the five divisions of the High Court of Justice of Great Britain, presided over by the Lord High Chancellor.
5. n. The office or department of a chancellor; a chancellery.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Originally, the office of a chancellor, notary, or secretary, where the records were kept and official documents were prepared, sealed, and despatched.
2. n. In England, formerly, the highest court of justice next to Parliament, presided over by the lord chancellor, but since 1873 a division of the High Court of Justice It once consisted of two distinct tribunals—one ordinary, or legal; the other extraordinary, or a court of equity.
3. n. In Scotland, an office in the general register-house at Edinburgh, in which are recorded charters, patents of dignities, gifts of office, remissions, legitimations, and all other writs appointed to pass the great or the quarter seal. Also chancellery.
4. n. In the United States, a court of equity. See equity.
5. n. In pugilism, the position of a boxer's head when it is under his adversary's arm, so that it may be held and pommeled severely, the victim meanwhile being unable to retaliate effectively: in the phrase in chancery. So called because of its supposed resemblance to the position of a suitor among the chancery lawyers.
6. n. In an awkward predicament.
7. n. See 5, above.

Wiktionary

1. n. In England, formerly, the highest court of judicature next to the Parliament, exercising jurisdiction at law, but chiefly in equity; but under the jurisdiction act of 1873 it became the chancery division of the High Court of Justice, and now exercises jurisdiction only in equity.
2. n. In the United States, a court of equity; equity; proceeding in equity.
3. n. The type of building that houses a diplomatic mission or embassy.
4. n. The type of building that houses the offices and administration of a diocese; the offices of a diocese.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. In England, formerly, the highest court of judicature next to the Parliament, exercising jurisdiction at law, but chiefly in equity; but under the jurisdiction act of 1873 it became the chancery division of the High Court of Justice, and now exercises jurisdiction only in equity.
2. n. In the Unites States, a court of equity; equity; proceeding in equity.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a court with jurisdiction in equity
2. n. an office of archives for public or ecclesiastic records; a court of public records