Blackstonian

adjective

Black·​sto·​nian ˌblak-ˈstō-nē-ən How to pronounce Blackstonian (audio)
-nyən
law
: of or relating to the English jurist Sir William Blackstone or his philosophy of law
Where previously the Blackstonian doctrine mandated that when a nuisance could be proved, a plaintiff was entitled to its abatement, courts of equity were willing to couple the finding of nuisance with a remedy limited to damages.Louise A. Halper, Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review, Fall 1998
Summoning another factoid, he recalled a seminal Blackstonian tenet, reciting it nearly verbatim: "This is what Blackstone said: 'The goal of the judge is to find and declare the law.' They were not to read new meaning into the Constitution."Michael Leahy, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2009

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Blackstonian was in 1825

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Cite this Entry

“Blackstonian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Blackstonian. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

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