Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Jurisprudence \Ju`ris*pru"dence\, n. [L. jurisprudentia; jus,
   juris, right, law + prudentia a foreseeing, knowledge of a
   matter, prudence: cf. F. jurisprudence. See {Just}, a., and
   {Prudence}.]
   The science of juridical law; the knowledge of the laws,
   customs, and rights of men in a state or community, necessary
   for the due administration of justice.

         The talents of Abelard were not confined to theology,
         jurisprudence, philosophy.               -- J. Warton.

   {Medical jurisprudence}, that branch of juridical law which
      concerns questions of medicine.

Source : WordNet®

jurisprudence
     n 1: the branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the
          principles that lead courts to make the decisions they
          do [syn: {law}, {legal philosophy}]
     2: the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization
        presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for
        jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
        [syn: {law}]