Webster's English Dictionary

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chancery

chan.cery \'chan(t)s-(*-)re-\ n [ME chancerie, alter. of chancellerie 
   chancellery, fr. OF, fr. c]hancelier cap  1a: a high court of equity in 
   England and Wales with common-law functions a nd jurisdiction over causes 
   in equity 1b: a court of equity in the American judicial system  1c: the 
   principles and practice of judicial equity  2: a record office for public 
   archives or those of ecclesiastical, legal, o r diplomatic proceedings 3a: 
   a chancellor's court or office or the building in which he has his offi ce 
   3b: the office of an embassy : CHANCELLERY  4: a wrestling hold that 
   imprisons the head or encircles the neck : ST RANGLEHOLD 1: in litigation 
   in a court of chancery; also : under the superinte ndence of the lord 
   chancellor {a ward in chancery} 2: in a hopeless predicament  - in chancery