assize

[ uh-sahyz ]

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.

assize

/ əˈsaɪz /

noun

1. in the US
   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

Word History and Origins

Origin of assize¹

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of assize¹

C13: from Old French assise session, from asseoir to seat, from Latin assidēre to sit beside; see assess

Example Sentences

The judges of assize, by virtue of their commission of nisi prius, try the causes thus appointed.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other hand the Assize of Arms restored the national militia to its old important place.

From Project Gutenberg

A hundred and twenty more were to have been tried, but the approach of the royal troops led to the adjournment of the Assize.

From Project Gutenberg

On the following day there was a crowded court-house in the assize town of the neighboring county.

From Project Gutenberg

So the Judges of Assize were ordered in their circuits to tell the people to comply with the order and pay the money!

From Project Gutenberg