Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Advocate?

\Ad"vo*cate\, n. [OE. avocat, avocet, OF. avocat, fr. L. advocatus, one summoned or called to another; properly the p. p. of advocare to call to, call to one's aid; ad + vocare to call. See {Advowee}, {Avowee}, {Vocal}.] 1. One who pleads the cause of another. Specifically: One who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court; a counselor. Note: In the English and American Law, advocate is the same as ``counsel,'' ``counselor,'' or ``barrister.'' In the civil and ecclesiastical courts, the term signifies the same as ``counsel'' at the common law. 2. One who defends, vindicates, or espouses any cause by argument; a pleader; as, an advocate of free trade, an advocate of truth. 3. Christ, considered as an intercessor. We have an Advocate with the Father. --1 John ii. 1. {Faculty of advocates} (Scot.), the Scottish bar in Edinburgh. {Lord advocate} (Scot.), the public prosecutor of crimes, and principal crown lawyer. {Judge advocate}. See under {Judge}.
\Ad"vo*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Advocated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Advocating}.] [See {Advocate}, n., {Advoke}, {Avow}.] To plead in favor of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly. To advocate the cause of thy client. --Bp. Sanderson (1624). This is the only thing distinct and sensible, that has been advocated. --Burke. Eminent orators were engaged to advocate his cause. --Mitford.
\Ad"vo*cate\, v. i. To act as advocate. [Obs.] --Fuller.