nisi prius

[ nahy-sahy prahy-uhs, nee-see pree-uhs ]

/ ˈnaɪ saɪ ˈpraɪ əs, ˈni si ˈpri əs /

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noun Law.

Also called nisi prius court . a trial court for the hearing of civil cases before a judge and jury.

British Law.

a writ commanding a sheriff of a county to summon a jury and bring it to the court in Westminster on a certain day, unless the judges of assizes previously came to that county.
the clause with the words “nisi prius” introducing this writ.
the system of judicial circuits to which judges are assigned for local trials of civil and criminal cases.

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Origin of nisi prius

1300–50; Middle English <Latin: literally, unless previously, unless before

OTHER WORDS FROM nisi prius

nisi-prius, adjective

Words nearby nisi prius

nisgul, nish, Nishapur, Nishinomiya, nisi, nisi prius, Niskin bottle, Nisqually, Nissen hut, Nistru, nisus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nisi prius in a sentence

The judges of assize, by virtue of their commission of nisi prius, try the causes thus appointed.
Notes and Queries, Number 178, March 26, 1853|Various
In August, 1837, the case was brought down to trial at Nisi Prius, and a verdict entered for plaintiff at one-shilling damages.
The Last Laird of MacNab|Various
No man could make such an income, except one who was at once an excellent Nisi Prius pleader, as well as a good Crown lawyer.
Bits of Blarney|R. Shelton Mackenzie
That was made at nisi prius in answer to a motion for a nonsuit in an action brought for an infringement of a patent right.
Monopolies and the People|D. C. Cloud

He was great both at nisi prius and before an appellate tribunal.
The Life Of Abraham Lincoln|Ward H. Lamon

British Dictionary definitions for nisi prius

nisi prius

/ (ˈpraɪəs) /

noun

English legal history

a direction that a case be brought up to Westminster for trial before a single judge and a jury
the writ giving this direction
trial before the justices taking the assizes

(in the US) a court where civil actions are tried by a single judge sitting with a jury, as distinguished from an appellate court

Word Origin for nisi prius

C15: from Latin: unless previously

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