At*tor"ney (&?;), n.; pl.
Attorneys (&?;). [OE. aturneye, OF.
atorné, p. p. of atorner: cf. LL. atturnatus,
attornatus, fr. attornare. See Attorn.]
1. A substitute; a proxy; an agent. [Obs.]
And will have no attorney but myself.
Shak.
2. (Law) (a) One who is
legally appointed by another to transact any business for him; an
attorney in fact. (b) A legal agent
qualified to act for suitors and defendants in legal proceedings; an
attorney at law.
&fist; An attorney is either public or private. A
private attorney, or an attorney in fact, is a person
appointed by another, by a letter or power of attorney, to transact any
business for him out of court; but in a more extended sense, this class
includes any agent employed in any business, or to do any act in
pais, for another. A public attorney, or attorney at law,
is a practitioner in a court of law, legally qualified to prosecute and
defend actions in such court, on the retainer of clients. Bouvier. -
- The attorney at law answers to the procurator of the civilians, to
the solicitor in chancery, and to the proctor in the
ecclesiastical and admiralty courts, and all of these are comprehended
under the more general term lawyer. In Great Britain and in some
states of the United States, attorneys are distinguished from counselors in
that the business of the former is to carry on the practical and formal
parts of the suit. In many states of the United States however, no such
distinction exists. In England, since 1873, attorneys at law are by statute
called solicitors.
A power, letter, or
warrant, of attorney, a written
authority from one person empowering another to transact business for
him.
At*tor"ney (&?;), v. t. To perform by
proxy; to employ as a proxy. [Obs.] Shak.
