arraign

[ uh-reyn ]
See synonyms for arraign on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. Law. to call or bring before a court to answer to an indictment, a formal charge for which it has been ascertained that there is enough evidence to warrant trial: He is scheduled to be arraigned this morning on drug and gun charges.

  2. to accuse or charge in general; criticize; censure: I am not arraigning Professor Wells for these omissions, only mentioning them to indicate how complex such questions can be.

Origin of arraign

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English arainen, from Anglo-French arainer, Old French araisnier, equivalent to a- a-5 + raisnier, from unrecorded Vulgar Latin ratiōnāre “to talk, reason”; see ratio

Other words from arraign

  • ar·raign·er, noun

Words Nearby arraign

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use arraign in a sentence

  • The police locked him in a cell, and made plans to arraign Picasso.

  • It had been his intention before arriving there, to arraign his wife again for having let Orlean go West in the beginning.

    The Homesteader | Oscar Micheaux
  • If you persist, I shall positively arraign you at the bar of good breeding and fashion.

  • Then suddenly he found himself disposed to arraign himself for selfishly clinging to his ideals.

    David Dunne | Belle Kanaris Maniates
  • There is certainly a possibility that I may arraign myself against his dearest interests.

    Doctor Grimshawe's Secret | Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • At first I supposed the intention was to arraign me before the high court of Thousandacres, but in this I was in error.

    The Chainbearer | J. Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for arraign

arraign

/ (əˈreɪn) /


verb(tr)
  1. to bring (a prisoner) before a court to answer an indictment

  2. to call to account; complain about; accuse

Origin of arraign

1
C14: from Old French araisnier to speak, accuse, from a- ² + raisnier, from Vulgar Latin ratiōnāre (unattested) to talk, argue, from Latin ratiō a reasoning

Derived forms of arraign

  • arraigner, noun
  • arraignment, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012