chancery

Meanings

Noun

• In England, formerly, the highest court of judicature next to the Parliament, exercising jurisdiction at law, but chiefly in equity; but under the jurisdiction act of 1873 it became the chancery division of the High Court of Justice, and now exercises jurisdiction only in equity.
• In the United States, a court of equity; equity; proceeding in equity.
• The type of building that houses a diplomatic mission or embassy.
• The type of building that houses the offices and administration of a diocese; the offices of a diocese.
• In the Middle Ages, a government office that produced and notarized official documents.
• The position of a boxer's head when under his adversary's arm.
• Any awkward predicament.

Adverb

• With the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other fist at will.
• In an awkward situation; wholly under the power of someone else.

Related

Similar words

• in chancery

Origin

• From French chancellerie, from Late Latin cancellaria, from Latin cancellarius, from Latin cancellus ("lattice") (English chancel), from Latin cancelli ("grating, bars"), from the lattice-work that separated a section of a church or court.
• See related chancellor and chancellery, and the more distantly related incarcerate, from carcer.
• The adverbial form is an allusion to the condition of a person involved in the chancery court.