ADVOCATE, (1) Originally one whose aid was called in or invoked; one who helped in any business matter; (2) in law, at first, one who gave his legal aid in a case, without, however, pleading, this being the function of the patroxus; (3) the advocates fisci, who at tended to the interests of the fiscus, or the emperor's privy purse.
In the old German empire, a person ap pointed by the emperor to do justice. In Ger many and elsewhere juridical advocates were made judges in consequence of their attending when causes were pleaded in the count's court. • In the mediaeval church, one appointed to defend the rights and revenues of a church or monastery. The word advocate, in the sense of a defender of the Church, was ultimately su perseded by that of patron but it still lingers in the term advowson (q.v.).
Constitutional advocates, in Rome, pleaded before the consistory in cases relating to the disposal of benefices which they opposed. Elective advocates were chosen by a bishop, an abbot or a chapter. Feudal advocates were
persons assigned lands on condition of their fighting for the Church, leading out their vas sals for the purpose. Matricular advocates defended the cathedral churches. Military advocates were appointed to fight for the Church. The Devil's advocate is a Roman ecclesiastic whose office it is to urge whatever objections may exist to the canonization of any proposed saint.
In English law, originally one who pleaded a cause in a civil, but not in a criminal, court; alone entitled to plead as counsel in ecclesias tical and admiralty courts which are now thrown open to the ordinary bar. Now, in English and American law, one who pleads a cause in any court. It is not, properly speak ing, a technical word but is used only in a popular sense, while the attorney and barrister (q.v.) have defined special attributes.