assize

noun

as·​size ə-ˈsīz How to pronounce assize (audio)
1
a
: a judicial inquest
b
: an action to be decided by such an inquest, the writ for instituting it, or the verdict or finding rendered by the jury
2
a
: the former periodical sessions of the superior courts in English counties for trial of civil and criminal cases
usually used in plural
b
: the time or place of holding such a court, the court itself, or a session of it
usually used in plural

Examples of assize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Rather than being tried in an assize court, whose judges tended not to be very religious, Clarke was tried by a presiding judge who was a strict Puritan, a slave-trafficker, and a notoriously cruel admiral. Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English assise, from Anglo-French, session, legal action, from asseer, asseoir to seat, from Vulgar Latin *assedēre, from Latin assidēre to sit beside, assist in the office of a judge, from ad- + sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of assize was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near assize

Cite this Entry

“Assize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assize. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

assize

noun
as·​size ə-ˈsīz How to pronounce assize (audio)
: a session of an English court formerly held by judges traveling through various counties
usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on assize

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