assize
- Usually assizes. a trial session, civil or criminal, held periodically in specific locations in England, usually by a judge of a superior court.
- an edict, ordinance, or enactment made at a session of a legislative assembly.
- an inquest before members of a jury or assessors; a judicial inquiry.
- an action, writ, or verdict of an assize.
- judgment: the last assize; the great assize.
- a statute for the regulation and control of weights and measures or prices of general commodities in the market.
Origin of assize
Related Words for assize
tribunal, decree, court, ordinance, enactment, inquest, rule, hearing, trial, session, measure, assemblyExamples from the Web for assize
Historical Examples of assize
The old saying, 'Truth will out,' does not apply in an assize court.
The New TenantE. Phillips Oppenheim
The trial came on at the Court of Assize about six weeks ago.
FantmasPierre Souvestre
The judges on assize were ordered to press the king's demand.
History of the English People, Volume V (of 8)John Richard Green
The assize at Dorchester was opened on the 3rd of September.
Roger WilloughbyWilliam H. G. Kingston
Nearly every assize is marked by a charge of this character.
assize
- (in the US)
- a sitting of a legislative assembly or administrative body
- an enactment or order of such an assembly
- English history a trial or judicial inquest, the writ instituting such inquest, or the verdict
- Scots law
- trial by jury
- another name for jury 1
Word Origin for assize
Word Origin and History for assize
"session of a law court," c.1300 (attested from mid-12c. in Anglo-Latin), from Old French assise "session, sitting of a court" (12c.), properly fem. past participle of asseoir "to cause to sit," from Latin assidere (see assess). Originally "all legal proceedings of the nature of inquests or recognitions;" hence sessions held periodically in each county of England to administer civil and criminal justice.