arraign
Americanverb (used with object)
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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.
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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.
verb
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to bring (a prisoner) before a court to answer an indictment
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to call to account; complain about; accuse
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have arraignedperfect
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has arraignedperfect 3rd person singular
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is arraigningprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been arraigningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been arraigningperfect progressive
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are arraigningprogressive
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arraignssingular 3rd person
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am arraigningprogressive 1st person singular
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arraigningparticiple
Past
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had arraignedperfect
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were arraigningprogressive plural
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was arraigningprogressive singular
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arraignedsimple
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arraignedparticiple
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had been arraigningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of arraign
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
Explanation
To arraign someone is to call the person before a court of law to be charged. You've probably seen it in movies. It's the part where an official charge is read and the accused responds by saying "guilty" or "not guilty." Arraign comes from Old French, but it traces back to the Latin ad, meaning “to,” and ration, meaning “reason or account.” So if you arraign someone, it’s like you're presenting an account — a record — of the thing the person has done wrong. You're outlining a formal charge in court. Arraign can also be used more broadly to describe any accusation of wrongdoing.
Vocabulary lists containing arraign
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
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Othello
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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Arraign the prisoner!" roared the Chief: and Judge Harbottle felt the panels of the dock round him, and the floor, and the rails quiver in the vibrations of that tremendous voice.
From Green Tea; Mr. Justice Harbottle by Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan
"Arraign the prisoner!" roared the Chief; and Judge Harbottle felt the pannels of the dock round him, and the floor, and the rails quiver in the vibrations of that tremendous voice.
From In a Glass Darkly, v. 1/3 by Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan
"Arraign the white prisoners according to the roll, Mr.—. Have you sent a message to the Captain about that boy?" inquired the mayor.
From Manuel Pereira by Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
Arraign, ar-rān′, v.t. to call one to account: to put a prisoner upon trial: to accuse publicly.—ns.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Arraign Diopeithes, of course—but that will not improve matters.
From Authors of Greece by Lumb, T. W.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
