arraign

American  

[uh-reyn] / əˈreɪn /

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.

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arraign British  

/ əˈreɪn /

verb

1. to bring (a prisoner) before a court to answer an indictment

2. to call to account; complain about; accuse

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Other Word Forms

• arraigner noun
• arraignment noun

Etymology

Origin of arraign

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

Example Sentences

Mr. Nair posted bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in a Boston court on May 30.

From Washington Times

Nair, 26, of Chicago, posted bail and is scheduled to be arraigned May 30 in East Boston Municipal Court.

From Seattle Times

In recent weeks, he was arraigned on criminal charges brought by Manhattan’s district attorney and deposed in the attorney general’s fraud lawsuit.

From Washington Post

He was arraigned several days later by a judge in the Malindi Law Courts, who said the pastor would be held for two weeks as the police conducted their investigation.

From New York Times

The trial will unfold at a federal courthouse a block from the state court where Trump was arraigned earlier this month on his indictment.

From Seattle Times