(Lat. advoco. Fr. avocasser.) To plead, to support, to defend.--Todd. To plead in favor of; to defend by argument before a tribunal; to support or vindicate.--Webster.
This word has been particularly noticed by recent Lexicographers; as it is one of that class which has fallen into disuse in England, and, by English and American critics not familiar with its history, has been set down as an Americanism. It is a useful word, and has long been employed by our best writers.
In speaking of this word, Mr. Boucher observes in his Glossary, "that it has been said that it is an improvement of the English language, which has been discovered by the people of the United States of North America, since their separation from Great Britain;" but that it can be shown to be a very common Scottish word. Mr. Todd, the learned editor of Johnson's Dictionary, is also unwilling to allow this concession to us, and says, "It is an old English word, employed by one of our finest and most manly writers; and if the Americans affect to plume themselves on this pretended improvement of our language, let them, as well as their abettors, withdraw the unfounded claim to discovery, in turning to the prose writings of Milton. In the Dictionaries of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, however, as in the Latin of Thomas, the Spanish of Minshew, the Italian of Florio, and the French of Colgrave, advoco, advogar, avocare, and avocasser, are rendered, not to advocate, but "to play the advocate."
This is the only thing distinct and sensible that has been advocated.--Burke, Speech on the Reform of Representatives.
"Though this verb is found in Milton," says Mr. Pickering, "yet it does not appear to have been in common use in England, either at the time lie wrote, or since that period. It has very recenly been adopted by a few other writers, and seems now to be getting into use in England." Dr. Webster makes no remarks as to the legitimacy of the word, but gives several examples of its use. From the vocabulary of Mr. Pickering, the Glossary of Mr. Boucher, and the Dictionary of Dr. Webster, the following illustrations have been selected.
The members of the College of Justice have this privilege, that they cannot be pursued before any inferior judge; and if they be, the lords will advocate the cause to themselves.--Sir Geo. Mackenzie, Institutes of Law.
How little claim, persons who advocate this sentiment, really possess to be considered Calvinists, will appear from the following quotation.--Mackenzie's Life of Calvin.
The most eminent orators were engaged to advocate his cause.--Mitford.
But from his want of sobermindedness, we cannot always prove his earnestness in the cause he advocated.--D'Israeli, Quarrels of Authors.
From American writers are the following examples:
Some are taking unwearied pains to disparage the motive of those Federalists who advocate the equal support of, &c.--Alex. Hamilton.
I shall on a future occasion examine impartially, and endeavor to ascertain precisely the true value of this opinion, which is so warmly advocated by all the great orators of antiquity.--J. Q. Adams, Rhetoric.
The idea of a legislature consisting of a single branch, though advocated by some, was generally reprobated.--Ramsey, Hist. of S. Carolina.
This seems to be a foreign and local dialect, and cannot be advocated by any person who understands correct English.--Webster, Diss. on the English Language, p.111.