arraignment

[ uh-reyn-muhnt ]

/ əˈreɪn mənt /

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See synonyms for arraignment on Thesaurus.com

Definition of arraignment

noun

Law. an act or instance of bringing someone before a criminal court to hear or read and answer to an indictment, the formal charge initiating the case: At her arraignment Crane pleaded not guilty, and the trial was set for May 21.

a calling into question or a finding fault, especially with respect to the value or virtue of something; critical examination: In his arraignment of the basic weaknesses in the nation's social fabric, he drew special attention to racism.

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showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

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Origin of arraignment

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English arainement, from Middle French araisnement; see arraign, -ment

OTHER WORDS FROM arraignment

non·ar·raign·ment, noun

Words nearby arraignment

arr., arracacha, arrack, arrah, arraign, arraignment, Arran, arrange, arranged marriage, arrangement, arrangements

How to use arraignment in a sentence

She said about a dozen of those courtrooms are now open for in-person proceedings, including arraignments, mental health and drug treatment hearings and other routine matters.
Top D.C. Superior Court judges rebut Bowser’s complaints about case backlogs|Paul M. Duggan|July 30, 2021|Washington Post
The arraignment of Jasmine Hartin, 38, comes three days after she was initially detained—after being found spattered with blood on a dock where she and Superintendent Henry Jemmott had been socializing alone after curfew.
Lord Ashcroft’s Daughter-in-Law Charged in Shooting of Belize Cop|Tracy Connor|June 1, 2021|The Daily Beast
By comparing defendants assigned to more-lenient versus less-lenient prosecutors, we’re able to measure the effect of nonprosecution—that is, having your case dismissed at the initial arraignment hearing.
A New Study Reveals that Not Prosecuting People for Nonviolent Misdemeanors May Actually Reduce Crime|Amanda Agan, Jennifer Doleac and Anna Harvey|May 4, 2021|Time
In 2014, a different judge came to a different conclusion and set a new arraignment date, allowing criminal proceedings to resume.
Why One Woman Has Spent 5 Years in a San Diego County Jail With No Trial|Jesse Marx|April 8, 2021|Voice of San Diego

“San Diego is one of three still operating under emergency orders issued by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye which allows arraignments to occur as many as seven business days after someone is arrested and booked into jail,” Moran reports.
Morning Report: Gloria, Council Dems at Odds on Major Power Decision|Voice of San Diego|April 1, 2021|Voice of San Diego
His attorney says he will be pleading not guilty at his arraignment in December.
Rape, Lies & Videotape in Ferguson|Michael Daly|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The defendant was led off pending arraignment on an indictment, to which he is expected to plead not guilty.
Terry Lee Loewen, the Mellow Kansas Man Who Dreamed of Jihad|Michael Daly|December 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The arraignment ended with us being everything we truly are and nothing we are really not.
Gripping His Koran, Anas al-Liby Has His Day in Court|Michael Daly|October 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The arraignment concluded as usual, with the exception of the judge inquiring about classified material.
Bin Laden’s Son-in-Law Is Arraigned Just Blocks From the Twin Towers|Michael Daly|March 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The arraignment of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith was just another hearing in Manhattan federal court.
Bin Laden’s Son-in-Law Is Arraigned Just Blocks From the Twin Towers|Michael Daly|March 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Under the force of this triple arraignment the outlaw leader dropped to his seat, staggered and silenced.
The Man of the Forest|Zane Grey
A tide of dull color had risen to Miss Reids face as she listened to Portias blunt arraignment.
Marjorie Dean College Freshman|Pauline Lester
And his face was white, his eyes burning, when at night he leaned forward to fling forth to his hearers his final arraignment.
In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim|Frances Hodgson Burnett
The record of persecution during the first five years of the Kulturkampf is an appalling arraignment of its perpetrators.
The War Upon Religion|Rev. Francis A. Cunningham
Part of his arraignment was that not a decade had passed that the North had not persecuted the South on account of her slaves.
Historic Papers on the Causes of the Civil War|Mrs. Eugenia Dunlap Potts