in the name of

1. Under the designation of, as in They burned witches at the stake in the name of piety . [Late 1300s]

2. in one's own name . On one's own behalf, as in Mary signed the check for John in her own name . [Late 1800s]

3. Under the possession or ownership of, as in The certificate of ownership was rightfully in my name . [Mid-1900s]

4. By the authority of, as in Open up, in the name of the law! [Late 1300s]

5. in God's or heaven's name ; in the name of God or heaven . With appeal to, as in In the name of God, stop that noise! or What in heaven's name are you doing? [c. a.d. 900]

6. On behalf of, as in She made a donation in her daughter's name . [Late 1300s]

Related Words

• through