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Definition of plenary - 6 dictionary results

ple⋅na⋅ry

  [plee-nuh-ree, plen-uh-] adjective, noun, plural -ries.
Use plenary in a Sentence
–adjective
1. full; complete; entire; absolute; unqualified: plenary powers.
2. attended by all qualified members; fully constituted: a plenary session of Congress.
–noun
3. a plenary session, meeting, or the like.
Origin:
1375–1425; < LL plēnārius (see plenum, -ary ); r. late ME plener < AF < LL plēnāris (see -ar 1 )

Related forms:
ple⋅na⋅ri⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ple·na·ry   (plē'nə-rē, plěn'ə-)   
adj.  
  1. Complete in all respects; unlimited or full: a diplomat with plenary powers.
  2. Fully attended by all qualified members: a plenary session of the council.

[Late Latin plēnārius, from Latin plēnus, full; see pelə-1 in Indo-European roots.]
ple'na·ri·ly adv., ple'na·ri·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Plenary

Ple"na*ry\, a. [LL. plenarius, fr. L. plenus full. See Plenty.] Full; entire; complete; absolute; as, a plenary license; plenary authority.

A treatise on a subject should be plenary or full. --I. Watts.

Plenary indulgence (R. C. Ch.), an entire remission of temporal punishment due to, or canonical penance for, all sins.

Plenary inspiration. (Theol.) See under Inspiration.

Plenary

Ple"na*ry\, n. (Law) Decisive procedure. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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plenary 
1517, earlier plenar (c.1290), from M.L. plenarius "entire, complete," from L. plenus "full," from PIE *ple- "to be full" (see poly-).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: ple·na·ry
Pronunciation: 'plE-n&-rE, 'ple-
Function: adjective
: full and complete in every respect: as a : ABSOLUTE 1 <plenary power> b : fully attended or constituted plenary session of the legislature> c : including all steps in due order plenary proceeding> —compare SUMMARY
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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