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

Other Word Forms

• arraigner noun
• arraignment 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

On Friday afternoon, McCluskie and Campbell appeared in federal court in Sacramento to be arraigned on conspiracy charges in back-to-back proceedings.

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Buzzard is accused of unlawfully violating the personal liberty of Tyler S. Brewer on Thursday and is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.

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The remaining defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in mid-November.

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They are expected to be arraigned in a Brooklyn, New York, court at a later date.

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He is scheduled to be arraigned in the coming weeks.

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