advocate

Meanings

Noun

• Someone whose job is to speak for someone's case in a court of law; a counsel.
• Anyone who argues the case of another; an intercessor.
• A person who speaks in support of something, or someone.
• A person who supports others to make their voices heard, or ideally for them to speak up for themselves.

Verb

• To plead in favour of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.
• To encourage support for something.
• To engage in advocacy.
• To appeal from an inferior court to the Court of Session.
• To call a case before itself for decision.

Origin

• From Middle English advocat, advoket, from Old French advocat, from Latin advocātus (past participle of advoco), a calque of Ancient Greek παράκλητος (whence English paraclete). advoke, avouch, and avow.