chancery
- 01 C1 Advanced
the building or office where an embassy or diplomatic mission does its work.
the building or suite of offices that houses a diplomatic mission or embassy.
Simple“The protesters gathered outside the chancery to hand over their petition to the ambassador.”
In context“Security was tightened around the chancery following the announcement of the new trade restrictions between the two nations.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a specific type of court that deals with fairness and trusts rather than just strict laws.
a court of equity, or a division of a high court that exercises jurisdiction in equity matters.
Simple“The family took their dispute over the inheritance to the court of chancery.”
In context“The case was transferred to chancery because the standard legal remedies were deemed insufficient to provide a fair outcome.”
Synonymsequity court - 03 C2 Proficiency
the office that handles the business and records of a bishop or a church district.
the administrative office of a diocese, responsible for maintaining records and managing official business.
Simple“You need to contact the chancery to get a copy of your baptismal certificate.”
In context“The bishop spent the morning at the chancery reviewing the financial reports from the local parishes.”
Synonymsdiocesan office - 04 C2 Proficiency
a position where a boxer holds their opponent's head under one arm.
a position in which a boxer's head is held under the opponent's arm, leaving them vulnerable to being hit.
Simple“The fighter was caught in chancery and couldn't defend himself from the punches.”
In context“In the bare-knuckle era, getting an opponent's head into chancery was a common tactic to end a fight quickly.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is largely archaic and mostly found in historical sports writing or literature.
Synonymsheadlock
From French chancellerie, from Late Latin cancellaria, from Latin cancellarius, from Latin cancellus (“lattice”) (English chancel), from Latin cancelli (“grating, bars”), from the lattice-work that separated a section of a church or court. See related chancellor and chancellery, and the more distantly related incarcerate (“put behind bars”), from carcer (“prison”). The adverbial form is an allusion to the condition of a person involved in the chancery court.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.