arraign

[ uh-reyn ]

/ əˈreɪn /

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See synonyms for: arraign / arraigned on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

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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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”; see ratio

OTHER WORDS FROM arraign

ar·raign·er, nounun·ar·raigned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use arraign in a sentence

The talented musician is being held at the 71st Precinct in Brooklyn and due to be arraigned Thursday morning.
Rapper Bobby Shmurda Arrested at New York’s Notorious Quad Studios|M.L. Nestel|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Monday, Kurilla was arraigned on charges of criminal homicide and aggravated assault.
10-Year-Old Murder Defendant Shows Failure of U.S. Juvenile Justice System|Christopher Moraff|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was arraigned on two counts of hiding a corpse, and bail was set at $1 million.
How ‘MrHandcuffs’ Ended Up With Two Corpses in Suitcases|Michael Daly|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Saudi citizens, too, have been arraigned, and executed, for sorcery.
Will Saudi Arabia Execute Guest Workers for 'Witchcraft'?|Michael Schulson|March 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They were arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on charges of burglary, reckless endangerment and jumping from a structure.
Hero or Criminal? James Brady, the WTC Ironworker Who Jumped Off the Building|Michael Daly|March 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Three classes of people are arraigned for judgment: the righteous, the wicked, and the indifferent.
Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala|Various
Even the religion of Stilicho was arraigned by the malice of his rival.
The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|Edward Gibbon
I never arraigned his creed, but the use or abuse made of it.
My Recollections of Lord Byron|Teresa Guiccioli
Are we not arraigned at the tribunal of civilization, by the helots of despotism?
The Right of American Slavery|True Worthy Hoit
Before Felix he was arraigned, and testified "what the prophets and Moses did say."
The Testimony of the Bible Concerning the Assumptions of Destructive Criticism|S. E. Wishard

British Dictionary definitions for arraign

arraign

/ (əˈreɪn) /

verb (tr)

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

to call to account; complain about; accuse

Derived forms of arraign

arraigner, nounarraignment, noun

Word Origin for arraign

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

arraign

Origin of arraign

OTHER WORDS FROM arraign

Words related to arraign

How to use arraign in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for arraign

Derived forms of arraign

Word Origin for arraign