Plaintiff
PLAINTIFF, one who brings a " plaint " (Low Lat. plancta plangere, beat the breast, lament), the name, in law, of the party who brings an action against another, who is called the " defendant." In suits for divorce the party bringing the suit is styled the " petitioner," the party against whom it is brought the " respondent."
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
