[syn: law, jurisprudence]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Jurisprudence \Ju`ris*pru"dence\, n. [L. jurisprudentia; jus,
juris, right, law + prudentia a foreseeing, knowledge of a
matter, prudence: cf. F. jurisprudence. See Just, a., and
Prudence.]
The science of juridical law; the knowledge of the laws,
customs, and rights of men in a state or community, necessary
for the due administration of justice.
[1913 Webster]
The talents of Abelard were not confined to theology,
jurisprudence, philosophy. --J. Warton.
[1913 Webster]
Medical jurisprudence, that branch of juridical law which
concerns questions of medicine.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
jurisprudence
n 1: the branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the
principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do
[syn: jurisprudence, law, legal philosophy]
2: the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization
presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for
jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" [syn:
law, jurisprudence]
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):
JURISPRUDENCE. The science of the law. By science here, is understood that
connexion of truths which is founded on principles either evident in
themselves, or capable of demonstration; a collection of truths of the same
kind, arranged in methodical order. In a more confined sense, jurisprudence
is the practical science of giving a wise interpretation to the laws, and
making a just application of them to all cases as they arise. In this sense,
it is the habit of judging the same questions in the same manner, and by
this course of judgments forming precedents. 1 Ayl. Pand. 3 Toull. Dr. Civ.
Fr. tit. prel. s. 1, n. 1, 12, 99; Merl. Rep. h.t.; 19 Amer. Jurist, 3.