PARLIAMENT • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Parliament

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/pˈɑrləmənt/ Listen

noun

Parliament n.

1.

A parleying; a discussion; a conference. (Obs.) "But first they held their parliament."

2.

A formal conference on public affairs; a general council; esp., An assembly of representatives of a nation or people having authority to make laws. "They made request that it might be lawful for them to summon a parliament of Gauls."

3.

The assembly of the three estates of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, viz., the lords spiritual, lords temporal, and the representatives of the commons, sitting in the House of Lords and the House of Commons, constituting the legislature, when summoned by the royal authority to consult on the affairs of the nation, and to enact and repeal laws. Note: Thought the sovereign is a constituting branch of Parliament, the word is generally used to denote the three estates named above.

4.

In France, before the Revolution of 1789, one of the several principal judicial courts.

Parliament heel, the inclination of a ship when made to careen by shifting her cargo or ballast.

Parliament hinge (Arch.), a hinge with so great a projection from the wall or frame as to allow a door or shutter to swing back flat against the wall.

Long Parliament, Rump Parliament. See under Long, and Rump.

See images of 'Parliament'

Etymology of 'Parliament'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Parliament" Quotes from Famous Books

... railroads could be nothing more than toys. We remember that a committee of the New York Legislature was equally stupid, and endeavored to prove in their report that railways were entirely impracticable. English opposition was still more stupidly absurd. Both Lords and Commons in Parliament were entirely opposed. "The engineers and surveyors as they went about their work were molested by mobs. George Stephenson was ridiculed and denounced as a maniac, and all those who supported him as lunatics and fools." "George Stephenson although bantered and ...

— Buchanan's Journal of Man, December 1887 - Volume 1, Number 11 • Various

... be proud to send such members to parliament,' said young Rice Rice, with a consciousness of superior wit, in which the remainder of the party ...

— Gladys, the Reaper • Anne Beale

... beginning to enjoy the calm, quiet life which I so much loved, as nobody had meddled with me for upwards of three weeks. But, alas! this felicity was to be but of short duration. The election of a member of Parliament came on, and I had a vote—but I had determined to make no use of it; for, being but little of a politician, and, above all things, desiring to be on good terms with everybody, whatever might be their religious ...

— Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume VI • Various

... ambition did not rest satisfied with municipal honours. He read the debates in the House of Commons, until he thought he could speak as well as most of them, and aspired to become a member of Parliament. In this laudable desire, he was greatly abetted by his beloved spouse, who was deeply impressed with the conviction that he would be one of the most eloquent members of ...

— Comical People • Unknown

... that John Hampden, of Buckinghamshire (a cousin of Oliver Cromwell), refused to pay the ship-money tax which Charles I. was levying without the authority of Parliament. ...

— Select Poems of Thomas Gray • Thomas Gray

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