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

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near Blackstonian

Cite this Entry

“Blackstonian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Blackstonian. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!