Forms: 4–5 iustyser, 5 -icer, -ycer, 5–6 -iser, -icere, 5–7 -icier, 7– justicer. [prob. orig. AF. form of OF. justicier (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), med.L. jūstitiārius, and thus orig. the etymological equivalent of JUSTICIAR, JUSTICIARY; but commonly used in a less technical sense as agent-noun from JUSTICE v.: cf. OF. justiceor, -eur (in nom. case justiciere), agent-n. of justicier vb., of which also the Eng. form would be at length justicer.]
1. One who maintains or executes justice; a supporter or vindicator of right. arch.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 2221. Ne he couþe be no iustyser.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 14. That afterward was a good prynce and a good iusticier.
c. 1500. Melusine, 97. They said that the kyng had doo right wel as a valyaunt & lawfull justiser shuld doo.
1585. Foxe, Serm. 2 Cor. v. 72. So it pleased the gracious goodnesse of our mercifull God … to become now of a terrible Iusticer, a tender father toward us.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., IV. 179. That inhumane rashnesse to bee auoided, by which men haue vndertooke to be their owne justicers.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., V. iii. We are Heaven’s justicers! Our woes anoint us kings!
1869. Ld. Lytton, Orval, 79. (Draws his dagger) Out, thou sharp Straightforward justicer!
2. An administrator of justice. † a. In general sense: A ruler or governor invested with judicial authority. Obs. b. One who administers justice in a court of law; a judge, magistrate. arch.
1481. Caxton, Godfrey, 29. They made in euery kynred or lygnage a prince whiche was theyr Iusticer.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, V. i. 145. As high and supreame Iusticer of all the Army.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. vi. 25. Come sit thou here, most learned Iusticer.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., vi. 17. As it were chief Justicer amongst the Mahometans.
1799. W. Taylor, in Monthly Rev., XXVIII. 513. The Corsican barristers claim that all the justicers … shall be native and resident Corsicans. Ibid. (1803), in Ann. Rev., I. 438. His subdivided schedules of contents … trace the bounds of their parish sovereignties, and note whether the presiding justicer be entitled a prince, a baronet, or an esquire.
1871. Rossetti, Poems, Dante at Verona, liii. They named him Justicer-at-Law.
† c. transf. A judge, critic. Obs.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXV. v. 271. If some severe Censor and precise Iusticer blame this act.
1612–5. Bp. Hall, Contempl., O. T., XV. v. How severe Justicers wee can bee to our very owne crimes in others persons?
3. spec. = JUSTICE 9, JUSTICIARY sb.1 1, 2. arch.
1535. Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. v. § 1. The said Iusticers … shal be sworne astricted and obliged to the kepinge of their sessions of the peace.
1567. Harman, Caveat, 21. Thereby the Justicers … may in their circutes be more vygelant to punish these malefactores.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. vi. § 34. As for the civil government of Jews in England, the King set over them one principal Officer, called the Justicer of the Jews.
1700. Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 1113. The chief Justicers, or Justicers in Eyre in their Circuits.
1880. Daily Tel., 22 Nov., 4/8. John Fineux, Chief Justicer to King Henry VIII.
