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Dictionary Language resources

champerty

Syllabification: (cham·per·ty)

Pronunciation: /ˈCHampərtē/

Definition of champerty

noun

Law

an illegal agreement in which a person with no previous interest in a lawsuit finances it with a view to sharing the disputed property if the suit succeeds.

Derivatives

champertous

Origin:

late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French champartie, from Old French champart 'feudal lord's share of produce', from Latin campus 'field' + pars 'part'