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2. spec. Attorney-General, Attorney General: a legal officer of the state empowered to act in all cases in which the state is a party. In England, Isle of Man, many Commonwealth countries, and in the United States, (formerly also in Ireland), the title of the first ministerial law-officer of the government, also of his or her Majesty's attorney in the duchy of Lancaster and, historically, in the duchy of Cornwall and the county palatine of Durham (now also applied to the attorney to the Prince of Wales). Plural (better): Attorney-Generals.The designation began in England, where this officer was at first merely the king's attorney (see above 6), called from the reign of Edward IV, ‘the king's general attorney,’ to distinguish him from those appointed to act on special occasions, or in particular courts. The descriptive designation seems to have grown into a title during the 16th cent. The A.G. is now a member of the Ministry (but not of the Cabinet), and usually has a seat in the House of Commons.