Advocate

a. [Lat. advocare, to call in aid.] To plead in favor of; to support; to vindicate; to defend. Ad'vocate, n. Among the ancient Romans, an advo cate was a person skilled in the laws. The origin of advocates in Rome was derived from an early institution, by which every head of a patrician house had a number of dependants, who looked up to him as a protector, and in return owed him certain obligations. This law established the relation of advocate, or patron, and client. As it was one of the principal and most ordinary duties of the patron to explain the law to his client, and to a ist him in his lawsuits, the relation was gradually contracted to this extent. - In early periods of the Roman republic, the profe ion of an advocate was held in high estimation. It was then the practice of advocates to plead gratuitously; those who aspired to honors and offices in the state taking this course to render themselves distinguished among the people. As the simplicity of ancient manners gradually disappeared, the services of Roman advocates became venal. At first it appears that presents of various kinds were given, as voluntary acknowledgments of the gratitude of clients for services rendered. These payments, however, gradually a umed the character of debts; and at length became a kind of stipend periodically payable by clients to those of the patrician order who devoted themselves to pleading. In this form, it became a heavy oppre ion, and was always considered to be an abuse, succe ively prohibited by several laws, which were ever eluded. In later periods, as the Roman law diffused itself over a great part of Europe, the restrictions upon the pecuniary remuneration of advocates entirely disappeared in practice; and the payment of pleaders for conducting causes in courts of justice resembled in substance the payment of any other services by those who derived benefit from them. countries where the Roman law prevails, especially in France, (see BARREAU,) the pleaders in courts of justice are still called advocates; their character, duties, and liabilities being extremely various under different governments. In Scotland, the faculty of advocates consists of pleaders or counsels, admitted, upon an examination, to practise before the courts of se ion, justiciary, and exchequer; they are also entitled to speak in the House of Lords in England upon appeals from the Scotch courts.The Lord Advocate, or King's Advocate, is the principal crown lawyer in Scotland. Previously to the union, he was one of the great state officers, and sat in parliament by virtue of his office, without election. His duty is to act as a public prosecutor, and to conduct all causes in which the crown is interested, and particularly in criminal cases. - In the United States and in England an advocate is usually termed a counsel, counsellor, or attorney-at-law. A judge advocate is a lawyer or officer who manages a prosecution in a court-martial. In turn up.] To give notice; to give public information; to Ad'vocateship, n. The office of an advocate. announce; to proclaim; to subtish in newspapers or Ad'vocate , n. A female advocate. ( Obs .) otherwise; as, to advertise the lo of a pocket-book, a Advoca'tion, n. [Lat. advocatio .] The act of plead house to rent, a pomade to sell, . Advertisement, n. Information communicated to individuals or the public in a manner designed to attract general attention; a notice published either in handbills or in a newspaper. Advert is'er, n. One who advertises. Advertising, p . a . Giving intelligence. Advice', n. [Fr. avis.] Counsel; instruction; except that instruction implies superiority, and advice may be given by equals or inferiors. - Information as to the state of affairs; notice; intelligence (then commonly in the plural); as, "We have late advices from France." (Com.) An information respecting trade communicated by letter; thus, an advice is generally sent by one banker or merchant to another, to inform him of the drafts or bills drawn on him, with full particulars of their sum, date, to whom made payable, . This document, termed a "letter of advice," prevents mistakes, and at times detects forgeries; for when bills are presented for payment or acceptance, they can be refused to be honored for want of advice. Advice'-boat, n. A ve el employed to carry de- spatches. Advisability, n. Quality of being advisable. Advisable, n. Prudent; expedient; fit to be advised. Advisablene , n. The quality of being advisable or fit; fitne . Advisably, ad. With advice. Advise', v. a. [Fr. aviser.] To counsel; to give an advice; - with to before the thing advised. "If you stir abroad, go arm'd. - Arm'd, brother! - Brother, I advise you to the best."-Shak. To give information; to inform; to make acquainted with anything; - followed by of before the thing told. "As may advise him of his happy state."- Milton . Advise', v. n. To consider; to deliberate; to weigh. "Advise if this be worth attempting."- Milton . Advised', p. a. Acting with deliberation, as after taking advice; prudent; cautious. - Performed with deliberation; well-considered; done with design.- Wor cester. Advisedly, ad. Deliberately; purposely; by design; prudently.