pre-lawadj.n.
/ˈpriːˌlɔː/, U.S. /ˈpriˌlɔ/, /ˈpriˌlɑ/ U.S.
A. adj.
Of or relating to (a programme of) study in preparation for a course in law.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > study of law > [adjective] > studied in preparation
pre-law1912
1912 Science 27 Dec. 893/1 This is doubtless explained by the fact that more men than heretofore are taking their pre-medical and pre-law training.
1946 Liberty 25 May 66/1 His family were disappointed because he hadn't gone back to college and finished his pre-law course.
1971 Mod. Law Rev. 34 650 Their North American counterparts who have undertaken significant pre-law work in another discipline.
2003 Chron. Higher Educ. 4 Apr. a29 Like some other prelaw students, she is minoring in drama for the public-speaking experience.
B. n.
A programme of study designed to prepare students for a course in law. Also: a pre-law student.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > study of law > [noun] > subjects studied in preparation
pre-law1938
1938 Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio) 6 June 11/4 Joseph studied pre-law at the University of Dayon, Muskingum college and Ohio Northern university.
1970 in R. Thorp & R. Blake Music of their Laughter 125/2 I started off as a pre-law.
1978 Detroit Free Press 5 Mar. 9/1 Career training offered at Madonna for deaf students includes..pre-law and education.
1992 R. Kenan Let Dead bury their Dead v. 104 I told him before I went back to school that January that I had chosen to declare pre-law.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1912