arraign
[uh-reyn]
- to call or bring before a court to answer to an indictment.
- to accuse or charge in general; criticize adversely; censure.
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Origin of arraign
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for arraign
Contemporary Examples
The police locked him in a cell, and made plans to arraign Picasso.
Historical Examples
It was for this that I arraigned my colleague, and that I intend to arraign him.
The Life, Public Services and Select Speeches of Rutherford B. HayesJames Quay Howard
He could not chide her for it, nor arraign her with one bitter thought.
Trail's EndGeorge W. Ogden
I have met no one that can see his own faults and arraign himself within.
The Sayings Of ConfuciusConfucius
Let us arraign her before our sacred tribunal, and have her into court.
A SimpletonCharles Reade
And I,—who would dare to suspect, to arraign, the Prince di—?
Zicci, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
arraign
- to bring (a prisoner) before a court to answer an indictment
- to call to account; complain about; accuse
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Word Origin
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for arraign
v.
late 14c., araynen, "to call to account," from Old French araisnier "speak to, address; accuse (in a law court)," from Vulgar Latin *arrationare, from Latin adrationare, from ad- "to" (see ad-) + *rationare, from ratio "argumentation, reckoning, calculation" (see ratio). Sense of "to call up on a criminal charge" is c.1400. The excrescent -g- is a 16c. overcorrection based on reign, etc. Related: Arraigned; arraigning.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper