parliament

Definition

A formal council summoned (especially by a monarch) to discuss important issues.

Etymology

From Middle English parlement, from Anglo-Norman parliament, parlement, parliment and Old French parlement (“discussion, meeting, negotiation; assembly, council”), from parler (“to speak”) + -ment (“-ment”, suffix forming nouns from verbs, usually indicating an action or state resulting from them) (from Latin -mentum). Compare Medieval Latin parlamentum, parliamentum (“discussion, meeting; council or court summoned by the monarch”), Italian parlamento and Sicilian parramentu.

Example Sentences

• "By the 13th Century, a parliament was when kings met up with English barons to raise cash for fighting wars - mostly against Scotland."
• "The row started over who will run for parliament in a wealthy rightwing constituency on the left bank in Paris, a safe seat for Sarkozy's ruling UMP."
• "Following the general election, Jane Doe took her oath of office as a member of the nation's fifth parliament."