Adviser

What does Adviser mean in American Law?

The definition of Adviser in the law of the United States, as defined by the lexicographer Arthur Leff in his legal dictionary is:

Anyone who gives advice, but more frequently a person who does so on a regular basis, e.g., a lawyer, [an] investment adviser, etc. The implication is that the adviser has no power to force anyone to take his advice.

Etimology of “-ER”

(You may find -er at the world legal encyclopedia and the etimology of more terms).

English agent noun ending, corresponding to Latin -or. In native words it represents Old English -ere (Old Northumbrian also -are) “man who has to do with,” from Proto-Germanic *-ari (cognates: German -er, Swedish -are, Danish -ere), from Proto-Germanic *-arjoz. Some believe this root is identical with, and perhaps a borrowing of, Latin -arius (see -ary). Generally used with native Germanic words. In words of Latin origin, verbs derived from past participle stems of Latin ones (including most verbs in -ate) usually take the Latin ending -or, as do Latin verbs that passed through French (such as governor); but there are many exceptions (eraser, laborer, promoter, deserter; sailor, bachelor), some of which were conformed from Latin to English in late Middle English. The use of -or and -ee in legal language (such as lessor/lessee) to distinguish actors and recipients of action has given the -or ending a tinge of professionalism, and this makes it useful in doubling words that have a professional and a non-professional sense (such as advisor/adviser, conductor/conducter, incubator/incubater, elevator/elevater).