Scalia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A notable jurist recognized for his strict interpretation of the Constitution and influence on American law
2. An influential figure in the legal sphere known for his originalist views and sharp opinions
3. A distinguished legal scholar remembered for his controversial stances and impact on the Supreme Court jurisprudence

Etymology: In English, this term is a surname turned into a common noun. It was borrowed from the Italian surname Scalia, and in English it now refers to the American jurist who sat on the Supreme Court and became known for his firm textualist and originalist opinions. Speakers apply it to a legal thinker whose reasoning is so forceful, and often so contested, that his name stands for a whole approach to the law. The shift from a family name to a term for a type of legal mind follows a familiar path. Once a person's name becomes shorthand for a distinctive style of argument, it can be used for anyone who argues in that style, though in this case it still points almost exclusively to the justice himself.