arraign

[ uh-reyn ]

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.

arraign

/ əˈreɪn /

verb

1. to bring (a prisoner) before a court to answer an indictment
2. to call to account; complain about; accuse

Derived Forms

• arˈraignment, noun
• arˈraigner, noun

Other Words From

• ar·raign·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of arraign¹

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”; ratio

Word History and Origins

Origin of arraign¹

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

Example Sentences

Hodges was arraigned in 2001 and eventually pleaded guilty to felony commercial burglary.

From Voice of San Diego

He is expected to be arraigned in Central Islip Federal Court on Friday.

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

If you persist, I shall positively arraign you at the bar of good breeding and fashion.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

There is certainly a possibility that I may arraign myself against his dearest interests.

From Project Gutenberg

At first I supposed the intention was to arraign me before the high court of Thousandacres, but in this I was in error.

From Project Gutenberg