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champerty

[ cham-per-tee ]
/ ˈtʃæm pər ti /
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noun Law.
a sharing in the proceeds of litigation by one who agrees with either the plaintiff or defendant to help promote it or carry it on.
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Origin of champerty

1300–50; Middle English champartie, equivalent to champart (<Middle French: share of the produce, literally, of the field, equivalent to champ field (see camp1) + part share, see part) + -ie-y3

OTHER WORDS FROM champerty

cham·per·tous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use champerty in a sentence

  • It is unnecessary to inquire here whether such a contract is void as champertous, and contrary to public policy.

    An Essay on Professional Ethics|George Sharswood

British Dictionary definitions for champerty

champerty
/ (ˈtʃæmpətɪ) /
noun plural -ties
law (formerly) an illegal bargain between a party to litigation and an outsider whereby the latter agrees to pay for the action and thereby share in any proceeds recoveredSee also maintenance

Derived forms of champerty

champertous, adjective

Word Origin for champerty

C14: from Anglo-French champartie, from Old French champart share of produce, from champ field + part share (a feudal lord's)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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