Have you ever heard of legal doublets? I didn’t know the term until I saw an Instagram post from Miriam Webster. They’re a huge part of the English language, and a great way to learn new vocabulary if you’re an English student!
Legal doublets are falling out of fashion (becoming less popular) as (because) people think they’re very wordy and unnecessary. However, they’re very common in English and are great to know. Here’s a little bit of the history of legal doublet, as well as some examples to learn from!
A History of Legal Doublets
In 1066, William the Conqueror, a Norman, took over the English throne. He therefore became King of England. The Normans spoke French, and because of this, the upper classes in England spoke French, and the lower classes spoke English. They used different words for the same thing, and we still do this today!
Ever wonder why we call a cow a cow, but the meat that comes from it beef? This is why! Cow comes from an Old English word, cū, and beef from the Old French, buef.
The same thing is why we have legal doublets. So what exactly are they?
Legal Doublets in English
Legal doublets are words that we use that derive (come from) both English and French to describe legal situations. Generally (usually), the words mean the same thing, or are very similar. Terms like aid and abet, breaking and entering, and will and testament are all examples of this interesting piece of language! Here are some examples, as well as what they mean:
Aid and abet: to help someone in a crime
Breaking and entering: to go into someone’s home illegally
Will and testament: a legal document that says what someone wants done with their money and things after they’ve died
Null and void: something, usually a document, is no longer valid
Free and clear: someone is no longer being held by police, and has no charges
Cease and desist: to stop something
We hope these help you become more fluent in English, or just help your next rewatch of Law & Order. Do you know of any other legal doublets? Let us know in the comments!
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Check out these other popular blogs: Filler Words in English, Vocabulary for Sleeping, Suffixes -er and -ee, or these Conversation Topics to Avoid in English!
Erin Duffin lives in Hamburg, is an English teacher, blogger, yoga instructor, and loves learning about interesting parts of language. If you know of any, let her know!
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