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• eyre
  eyre

  noun

  a circuit made by an itinerant judge justice in eyre in medieval England.
• Eyre
  Eyre

  noun

  Lake, a shallow salt lake in S South Australia. 3,430 sq. mi. (8,885 sq. km).

eyre

¹ American  

[air] / ɛər /

noun

Old English Law.

1. a circuit made by an itinerant judge justice in eyre in medieval England.

2. a county court held by a justice in eyre.

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Eyre ² American  

[air] / ɛər /

noun

1. Lake, a shallow salt lake in S South Australia. 3,430 sq. mi. (8,885 sq. km).

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Eyre ¹ British  

/ ɛə /

noun

1. Edward John. 1815–1901, British explorer and colonial administrator. He was governor of Jamaica (1864–66) until his authorization of 400 executions to suppress an uprising led to his recall

2. Sir Richard. born 1943, British theatre director: director of the Royal National Theatre (1988–97)

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eyre ² British  

/ ɛə /

noun

1. any of the circuit courts held in each shire from 1176 until the late 13th century

2. the justices travelling on circuit and presiding over such courts

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Eyre ³ British  

/ ɛə /

noun

1. a shallow salt lake or salt flat in NE central South Australia, about 11 m (35 ft) below sea level, divided into two areas (North and South); it usually contains little or no water. Maximum area: 9600 sq km (3700 sq miles)

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Etymology

Origin of eyre

1250–1300; Middle English eyre < Anglo-French; Old French erre, derivative of errer to journey; see err

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

eyre Eyre

They were red eyre, homicidal, terrific, seeming actually to give out light They were like rubies filled with flame.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

And the expense of trying a suit before the justices in eyre might not be very much greater than in the county-court.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Henry Hallam

Later still, the Royal justices in eyre supervened.

From The Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond: A Picture of Monastic Life in the Days of Abbot Samson by Jocelin de Brakelond

There were many exceptions of different kinds, but the Crown was striving to restrict their number and to enforce general attendance at least for the tourn and the eyre.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Paul Vinogradoff

When the reeve and the four men attend the sheriff's tourn or the eyre, they do not represent the lord only, but also the village community.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Paul Vinogradoff

“Iran is perfectly happy to substitute process for progress,” said Alan Eyre, a former senior State Department negotiator with Iran who is now at the Middle East Institute.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Like Iraq, experts who may have disagreed were seemingly sidelined or ignored, said Mansoor and Eyre.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026

Eyre says trauma can be passed on through generations, which may help to explain why people in Soham still do not speak to the media 24 years on.

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026

Dr Anne Eyre, director of the Centre for Collective Trauma, believes that for some living in Soham, having Huntley back in the headlines will be deeply upsetting.

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026

“What shocking conduct, Miss Eyre, to strike a young gentleman, your benefactress’s son! Your young master.”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

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