Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A specific historical document: "The Great Charter" is the English name for the Magna Carta, the royal charter of political rights granted by King John to rebellious English barons in 1215. It is a foundational document in the constitutional history of England, establishing the principle that the king and his government were not above the law.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The principles of liberty and justice find an early expression in the Great Charter.
  • King John was forced to seal the Great Charter at Runnymede.
  • Many legal systems trace concepts of due process back to the Great Charter.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a Magna Carta / Great Charter for...": used figuratively to describe a document or agreement that serves as a foundational guarantee of rights and liberties for a particular group.
  • The treaty was hailed as a Great Charter for indigenous peoples' rights.

Variants and Related Words

• Magna Carta (n): The more common Latin name for the same document, meaning "Great Charter."

  • The Magna Carta is on display in the British Library.

• Charter (n): A written grant by a country's legislative or sovereign power, defining rights and privileges. "The Great Charter" is a specific, historical instance of a charter.

Synonyms

• Magna Carta: The direct Latin equivalent.
• The Charter of Liberties: Another historical name for the document.

Related Phrases

• The spirit of the Great Charter: Refers to the underlying principles of limited government and rule of law associated with the document, rather than its specific historical clauses.
  • The judge invoked the spirit of the Great Charter in her ruling.

Related Idioms

• A modern Magna Carta: An idiom used to describe any later document or law that is seen as establishing fundamental rights or freedoms for a group of people.
  • The new data protection act has been called a modern Magna Carta for digital privacy.

Noun

1. the royal charter of political rights given to rebellious English barons by King John in 1215