Standard Lemma guide

lawspeaker

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An official in Scandinavia whose duties included memorizing laws as well as presiding over, and reciting the laws at, regional Things or the Althing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

Examples

  • 1974, Jón Jóhannesson, A History of the Old Icelandic Commonwealth: Islendinga Saga, University of Manitoba Press, 2006, Reprint, page 48, The lawspeaker was the president of the Althing. [...] Except for the hallowing ceremony, the lawspeaker was in charge of all the affairs of the Althing.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From law + speaker; compare lawman.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Faroese: løgmaður — legal official
  • Finnish: laamanni — legal official
  • Icelandic: lögsögumaður — legal official
  • Old Norse: lǫgmaðr — legal official
  • Swedish: lagman — legal official
  • Old Swedish: laghman — legal official