advocate

Borrowed from Old French advocat, from Latin advocātus (past participle of advocāre (“to call for”)), a calque of Ancient Greek παράκλητος (paráklētos) (whence English paraclete). Doublet of advoke, avouch, and avow.

• Noun:
  • enPR: ăd'və-kət, IPA^(key): /ˈæd.və.kət/,

    Audio (US)

    (file)

• Verb:
  • enPR: ăd'və-kāt, IPA^(key): /ˈæd.və.keɪt/,

    Audio (US)

    (file)

advocate (plural advocates)

1. Someone whose job is to speak for someone's case in a court of law; a counsel. [from 14th c.]
2. Anyone who argues the case of another; an intercessor. [from 14th c.]
   • c. 1591, William Shakespeare, Richard III, First Folio 1623:

     I neuer did incense his Maiestie / Against the Duke of Clarence, but haue bin / An earnest aduocate to plead for him.

3. A person who speaks in support of something. [from 18th c.]
   • 2011, Alix Lee, The Guardian, 9 Oct 2011:

     He became a tireless advocate for the needs of adults with IMD throughout Britain and internationally.

4. A person who supports others to make their voices heard, or ideally for them to speak up for themselves.

   Since she started working with her advocate, she has become much more confident.

• devil's advocate

• advocation
• avocate

advocate (third-person singular simple present advocates, present participle advocating, simple past and past participle advocated)

1. (transitive) To plead in favour of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Bishop Sanderson

     To advocate the cause of thy client.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Burke

     This is the only thing distinct and sensible, that has been advocated.

2. (transitive) To encourage support for something.

   I like trees, but I do not advocate living in them.

3. (intransitive, with for) To engage in advocacy.

   We have been advocating for changes in immigration law.

• See also Thesaurus:advise

• advocacy

• avocated

advocāte

1. first-person plural present active imperative of advocō

• IPA^(key): /ˈadvoket/

advocate (plural advocates)

1. barrister
2. (Aberdeen) solicitor

advocate (third-person singular present advocates, present participle advocatin, past advocatit, past participle advocatit)

1. (law) to appeal from an inferior court to the Court of Session
2. (law, in higher courts) to call a case before itself for decision

• Eagle, Andy, ed. (2016) The Online Scots Dictionary, Scots Online.