Lawyer
/ˈlɔɪ.ər/noun
A person qualified to advise about the law or represent others in legal matters.
Did you know?Lawyer comes from the same ancient root as *law*, which originally meant not just rules, but what was “laid down” or fixed in place—language as social spellcraft.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leg-
“to gather, collect; to speak, pick out”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*lagą
“something laid down; law, statute”
Old English
English
lagu
“law, ordinance, rule”
Middle English
English
law
“law, a rule or body of rules”
14th Century
English
lawier / lawyer
“one who practices or studies the law”
Modern English
English
lawyer
“a legal practitioner or advocate”