[L., lit. ‘of whom,’ from the wording of commissions in which certain persons were specially designated as members of a body by the words quorum vos … unum (duos, etc.) esse volumus ‘of whom we will that you … be one (two, etc.).’]
1. Orig., certain justices of the peace, usually of eminent learning or ability, whose presence was necessary to constitute a bench; latterly the term was loosely applied to all justices.
1455. Rolls Parlt., V. 334/1. The Justicez or Justice of the Pease of the Quorum yn the same Shire.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 2 § 5. ij of the Justices of the peas wherof one shalbe of the Quorum.
1559. Mirr. Mag., R. Tresilian, vii. At sessions & at syses … In patentes & commissions of Quorum.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., I. ix. (1602), 46. So that the one of those two [Justices] be of that select number, which is commonly tearmed of the Quorum. For these of the Quoram were wont … to bee chosen, specially for their knowledge in the Lawes of the lande.
1625. Massinger, New Way, I. i. Old Sir John Wellborn, Justice of Peace and Quorum.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 274. George Wither … a Justice of Peace in Quorum for Hampshire.
1728. Vanbr. & Cib., Prov. Husb., II. i. 43. I’m o’ th’ Quorum—I have been at Sessions.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxii. IV. 705. A squire who was one of the quorum.
Comb. 1619. Hutton, Foll. Anat., Ixions Wheele, E iij b. The Gods … Quorum Iustice warrants sent by poast.
b. transf. Applied to similarly distinguished members of other bodies; hence, a select company.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., IX. xlvi. (1612), 216. The Hellish Polentates … a new Commission framed, Narcissus ghost and Ecchos voice therein of Quorum named.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 187. He was afterwards of that quorum in the translating of the Bible.
1678. Marvell, Growth Popery, Wks. 1875, IV. 329. [They are] so small a scantling in number, that men can scarce reckon of them more than a quorum.
1747. Scheme Equip. Men of War, 24. A Quorum of Surgeons of the City Ships should be ordered to inspect, probe and examine them.
1859. Green, Oxf. Stud., ii. § 10 (O.H.S.), 128. The deepest sot among the topers of the quorum.
Comb. 1659. A. Brome, Panegyr. Verses, in R. Brome’s Wks., II. These would-be Quorum-Wits, and by their own Commission, do invade Apollo’s throne.
2. A fixed number of members of any body, society, etc., whose presence is necessary for the proper or valid transaction of business.
1616. in Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 81. The Assemblie appoynts twenty Commissioners nominat, whereof six a quorum, to attend the King’s Majestie’s ansuer.
1669. Evelyn, Diary, 19 May. It was order’d that 5 should be a quorum for a Council.
1720. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 524. The Commission should have met this day; but we have not a quorum in the forenoon.
1800. Colquhoun, Comm. Thames, xiii. 369. At the Meetings of the Directors, five Members shall be a quorum, capable of acting.
1873. Burton, Hist. Scot., V. lvii. 163. Six were to be a quorum, of whom the chancellor must always be one.
† 3. Necessary materials. Obs. rare.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, I. vi. 12. Salt, Bread and Wine … (all of the Quorum to every feast). Ibid. (1655), Ch. Hist. III. xiv. § 12. Fullers earth … a great Commodity of the Quorum to the making of good Cloath.
