praemunire

Meanings

Noun

• The offence in English law of bringing suit in or obeying a foreign (especially papal) court or authority, thus challenging the supremacy of the Crown. The offence was created by the Statute of Praemunire 1393 (16 Richard II, chapter 5), and abolished by the Criminal Law Act 1967 (chapter 58).
• The writ charging a person with this offence, the writ of praemunire facias.
• Any of a number of criminal offences incurring similar penalties to the original offence of praemunire.
• Crime, offence, wrongdoing.
• The penalty for this offence.
• A difficulty or predicament.

Verb

• To charge with the offence of praemunire; to subject to the penalties of praemunire.

Origin

• Borrowed from Latin praemūnīre, shortened form of praemunire facias from the opening words of the writ: praemūnīre (an error for praemoneo) + faciās.