attorney
UK: əˈtɜːni | US: əˈtɜːrni
n. a person appointed to act for another in business or legal matters; a lawyer.
attorney = at<to> + torn<turn> + ey<noun suffix>
- at (from Old French a-, meaning "to")
- torn (from Old French tornier, meaning "to turn" or "to arrange")
- ey (a noun-forming suffix, often indicating agency or role)
Etymology Origin:
The word "attorney" originates from Old French atorné, meaning "one appointed" or "deputy." It combines a- (to) + torner (to turn), reflecting the idea of someone "turned to" or delegated to handle affairs. Over time, it narrowed to specifically denote a legal representative. The spelling evolved to "attorney" in Middle English, retaining the core concept of agency.
She hired an attorney to handle her divorce case.
The attorney presented compelling evidence in court.
As a corporate attorney, he specializes in mergers.
The defendant consulted his attorney before speaking.
The attorney general oversees legal matters for the state.