praemunire

[ pree-myoo-nahy-ree ]

noun

, English Law.

1. a writ charging the offense of resorting to a foreign court or authority, as that of the pope, and thus calling in question the supremacy of the English crown.
2. the offense.
3. the penalty of forfeiture, imprisonment, outlawry, etc., incurred.

praemunire

/ ˌpriːmjʊˈnaɪərɪ /

noun

1. a writ charging with the offence of resorting to a foreign jurisdiction, esp to that of the Pope, in a matter determinable in a royal court
2. the statute of Richard II defining this offence

Word History and Origins

Origin of praemunire¹

1375–1425; short for Medieval Latin praemūnīre faciās (for Latin praemonēre faciās that you cause (the person specified) to be forewarned), the operative words of the writ; praemūnīre to warn ( Latin: protect, literally, fortify); replacing late Middle English premunire facias < Medieval Latin, as above. See prae-, muniment

Word History and Origins

Origin of praemunire¹

C14: from the Medieval Latin phrase (in the text of the writ) praemūnīre faciās, literally: that you cause (someone) to be warned in advance, from Latin praemūnīre to fortify or protect in front, from prae in front + mūnīre to fortify; in Medieval Latin the verb was confused with Latin praemonēre to forewarn

Example Sentences

This custom was put an end to by the Statute of Praemunire .

From Project Gutenberg

Han't I brought myself into a fine praemunire, to begin writing letters in whole sheets?

From Project Gutenberg

Such, on the one hand, was the statute of praemunire, passed in the reign of Richard II.

From Project Gutenberg

This measure was extended in 1365, and in 1393 by the great statute of Praemunire.

From Project Gutenberg