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, Nissen hut, Nissl substance, Nistru, nisus

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

How to use nisi prius in a sentence

I drive a Prius, enjoy Vanilla lattes, and am married to a man.
Dear Evangelicals: You’re Being Had|Jay Michaelson|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He offers that his Prius-driving friends might go home and eat steaks, so who is anyone to judge?
Talking Tofurky With Newly Vegan Cory Booker|Vlad Chituc|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
May they all stand in a puddle and stick their tongues in a Prius charge port.
The GOP Senate: A New Utopia Dawns|P. J. O’Rourke|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This argument makes about as much sense as saying that the recent death of actress Lauren Bacall means you should buy a Prius.
Family Research Council Uses Robin Williams’s Suicide to Promote Gay Conversion Therapy|Asawin Suebsaeng|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She was a cooing and cherubic mini-avatar called Anima, which players earned after reaching a certain level in the game Prius.
‘Love Child’ Game Over: Internet Addicts Let Their Baby Starve to Death|Nina Strochlic|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thomas goes on to contradict Aristotle, in holding quod nullum ens esset nisi corpus.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume II of II)|Henry Osborn Taylor
Hinc sequitur nimirum, vt pruinosa sit, & tam ventosa, sed flatu non nisi fer 72 algido.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Dederat ipse in mdatis, vt antiquo in monumto c demortua prius familia (qu scieb paganic obijsse) sepeliretur.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Populus cum longinquo propinquve populo vix habet commercium, nisi quod bello inferendo, aut defendendo potest interuenire.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
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

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