Glossary of Terms
to adopt or affirm (as the prior act or contract of an agent) by express or implied consent with the effect of original authorization
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996
ratify \Rat"i*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ratified; p. pr. & vb. n. Ratifying.] [F. ratifier, fr. L. ratus
fixed by calculation, firm, valid + -ficare (in comp.) to make:
To approve and sanction; to make valid; to establish; to settle; especially, to give sanction to, as something done by an agent or servant; as, to ratify an agreement, treaty, or contract; to ratify a nomination. It is impossible for the divine power to set a seal to a lie by ratifying an imposture with such a miracle. South.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Confirmation and acceptance of a previous act, thereby making the act valid from the moment it was done.
Black's Law Dictionary. 7th Edition © 1999
n : making something valid by formally ratifying or confirming it; "the ratification of the treaty"; "confirmation of the appointment" [syn: confirmation]
WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997. Princeton University
-- verb, from the Latin praetermittere; to let pass without mention or notice, to leave undone; suspend [rare]. Entered the language about 1538, followed by Pretermission, 1583, the act of pretermitting or omission.
Merriam-Webster's Deluxe Dictionary, Tenth Collegiate Edition,1998.
-- noun, from French via the Late Latin scutarius, derived from scutum, Latin for shield, and akin to sciath, Old Irish (1400s) for shield; the older usage given is the most appropriate -- "a candidate for knighthood serving as shield bearer and attendant to a knight"
Merriam-Webster's Deluxe Dictionary, Tenth Collegiate Edition,1998
...Properly, a shield-bearer or armor-bearer ... an attendant on a
knight. Hence in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below a knight.
Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary
Note: while the archaic usage of "landed proprietor" is more clear with regards to its usage in the post-revolutionary United States. The first meaning given is "a member of the English gentry ranking below a knight" and would not imply any real status beyond that of freeholder in a free republic, unless members of the Bar Association are really English gentry.
Suzanne Nevling
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