Definition of: attorney

(ə·tûr′nē) noun
1. A person empowered by another to act in his stead; especially, one legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in a court of law; an attorney at law; a lawyer.
2. Obs. An agent.
—by attorney By proxy.
—power of attorney Legal written authority to transact business for another.
—prosecuting attorney U.S. The law officer empowered to act in behalf of the government, whether state, county, or national, in prosecutions for penal offenses: also called district attorney. [<OF atorné, pp. of atorner. See ATTORN.]
—at·tor′·ney·ship noun