assize

American  

[uh-sahyz] / əˈsaɪz /

noun

1. Usually assizes a trial session, civil or criminal, held periodically in specific locations in England, usually by a judge of a superior court.

2. an edict, ordinance, or enactment made at a session of a legislative assembly.

3. an inquest before members of a jury or assessors; a judicial inquiry.

4. an action, writ, or verdict of an assize.

5. judgment.

   the last assize; the great assize.

6. a statute for the regulation and control of weights and measures or prices of general commodities in the market.

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assize British  

/ əˈsaɪz /

noun

1. 1. a sitting of a legislative assembly or administrative body

   2. an enactment or order of such an assembly

2. English history a trial or judicial inquest, the writ instituting such inquest, or the verdict

3. Scots law

   1. trial by jury

   2. another name for jury 1

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Etymology

Origin of assize

1250–1300; Middle English asise < Old French: a sitting, noun use of feminine of asis seated at (past participle of aseeir ), equivalent to a- a- ⁵ + -sis < Latin sēssum ( sed- stem of sedēre to sit ¹ + -tus past participle suffix)

Example Sentences

The trial at the Special Assize Court of Appeal in Paris is set to last until February 27.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

The trial started at the Court of Assize in Paris on Thursday.

From BBC • Feb. 29, 2024

The Assize of Clarendon, in 1166, which initiated the use of the jury in English criminal justice, described 12 local men to “speak the truth” about “any man accused or notoriously suspect” in their regions.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2017

Designed by the 20-something Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, St George’s Hall was initially supposed to be a concert hall while another building next to it was to house the Assize Courts.

From The Guardian • Jul. 4, 2017

But the words that had convicted him had been her very own, read out loud on her behalf in the Assize Court.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan