court
"go to court,"
to take legal action.
"hold court,"
1. to have a formal assembly of a judicial tribunal or one held by a sovereign.
2. to be surrounded by one's disciples or admirers, giving advice, exchanging gossip, receiving compliments, etc.
3. to preside over admirers, attendants, etc.
"out of court,"
1. without a legal hearing; privately:
The case will be settled out of court.
2. out of the question; undeserving of discussion:
This wild scheme is entirely out of court.
3. without a trial or legal case:
the case was settled out of court.
4. too unimportant for consideration.
5. British. so as to ridicule completely (in the phrase "laugh out of court").
"the ball is in your court,"
you are obliged to make the next move.
Origin:
1125–75; Middle English co(u)rt < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin cohort- (stem of cohors) farmyard; see cohort. British Dictionary: C12: from Old French, from Latin cohors cohort. —Dictionary.com.
First Known Use of court: Noun: 12th century. Verb: 1567. History and Etymology for court: Noun: Middle English, from Anglo-French curt, court, from Latin cohort-, cohors enclosure, group, retinue, cohort, from co- + -hort-, -hors (akin to hortus garden) — more at yard. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
Updated: 29 August 2020 {12:19 PM}
to take legal action.
"hold court,"
1. to have a formal assembly of a judicial tribunal or one held by a sovereign.
2. to be surrounded by one's disciples or admirers, giving advice, exchanging gossip, receiving compliments, etc.
3. to preside over admirers, attendants, etc.
"out of court,"
1. without a legal hearing; privately:
The case will be settled out of court.
2. out of the question; undeserving of discussion:
This wild scheme is entirely out of court.
3. without a trial or legal case:
the case was settled out of court.
4. too unimportant for consideration.
5. British. so as to ridicule completely (in the phrase "laugh out of court").
"the ball is in your court,"
you are obliged to make the next move.
Origin:
1125–75; Middle English co(u)rt < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin cohort- (stem of cohors) farmyard; see cohort. British Dictionary: C12: from Old French, from Latin cohors cohort. —Dictionary.com.
First Known Use of court: Noun: 12th century. Verb: 1567. History and Etymology for court: Noun: Middle English, from Anglo-French curt, court, from Latin cohort-, cohors enclosure, group, retinue, cohort, from co- + -hort-, -hors (akin to hortus garden) — more at yard. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
Updated: 29 August 2020 {12:19 PM}