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Definition of purview - 5 dictionary results

pur⋅view

[pur-vyoo]
–noun
1. the range of operation, authority, control, concern, etc.
2. the range of vision, insight, or understanding.
3. Law.
a. that which is provided or enacted in a statute, as distinguished from the preamble.
b. the purpose or scope of a statute.
4. the full scope or compass of any document, statement, subject, book, etc.

Origin:
1225–75; ME purveu < AF: ptp. of purveier to purvey


1. scope, responsibility, compass, extent.
pur·view   (pûr'vyōō')   
n.  
  1. The extent or range of function, power, or competence; scope. See Synonyms at range.
  2. Range of vision, comprehension, or experience; outlook.
  3. Law The body, scope, or limit of a statute.

[Alteration (influenced by view) of Middle English purveu, proviso, from Anglo-Norman purveu est, it is provided (from the use of this word to introduce a proviso), past participle of purveier, to provide; see purvey.]

Purview

Pur"view\, n. [OF. purveu, pourveu, F. pourvu, provided, p. p. of OF. porveoir, F. pourvoir. See Purvey, View, and cf. Proviso.]

1. (a) (Law) The body of a statute, or that part which begins with " Be it enacted, " as distinguished from the preamble. --Cowell. (b) Hence: The limit or scope of a statute; the whole extent of its intention or provisions. --Marshall.

Profanations within the purview of several statutes. --Bacon.

2. Limit or sphere of authority; scope; extent.

In determining the extent of information required in the exercise of a particular authority, recourse must be had to the objects within the purview of that authority. --Madison.

purview 
1442, "body of a statute," from Anglo-Fr. purveuest "it is provided," or purveu que "provided that" (1275), clauses that introduced statutes in old legal documents, from O.Fr. porveu "provided," pp. of porveoir "to provide," from L. providere (see provide). Sense of "scope, extent" is first recorded 1788 in "Federalist" (Madison). Modern sense and spelling influenced by view.

Main Entry: pur·view
Pronunciation: 'p&r-"vyü
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French purveu est it is provided (opening phrase of a statute)
1 : the body of a statute or the part that begins with Be it enacted and ends before the repealing clause
2 : the limit or scope of a law
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