assize


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as·size

 (ə-sīz′)
n. Law
1.
a. A judicial inquest, the writ by which it is instituted, or the verdict of the jurors.
b. A decree or edict rendered at such an inquest.
2. assizes
a. One of the periodic court sessions formerly held in each of the counties of England and Wales for the trial of civil or criminal cases.
b. The time or place of such sessions.

[Middle English assise, from Old French, from past participle of asseoir, to seat, from Latin assidēre, to sit beside; see assiduous.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

assize

(əˈsaɪz)
n
1. (Law) (in the US)
a. a sitting of a legislative assembly or administrative body
b. an enactment or order of such an assembly
2. (Law) English history a trial or judicial inquest, the writ instituting such inquest, or the verdict
3. (Law) Scots law
a. trial by jury
b. another name for jury1
[C13: from Old French assise session, from asseoir to seat, from Latin assidēre to sit beside; see assess]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

as•size

(əˈsaɪz)

n.
1. Usu., assizes. (in England) trial sessions, civil or criminal, held periodically by a high court.
2. an action, verdict, etc., of an assize.
3. an inquest or other judicial inquiry.
4. an enactment by a legislative assembly.
5. a statute for the regulation and control of weights and measures or prices of general commodities in the market.
[1250–1300; Middle English asise < Old French: session, seat, n. use of feminine of asis, past participle of aseeir to sit, settle < Latin assidēre to sit by]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.assize - the regulation of weights and measures of articles offered for sale
ordinance, regulation - an authoritative rule
2.assize - an ancient writ issued by a court of assize to the sheriff for the recovery of property
judicial writ, writ - (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer
law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

assize

noun
The formal product of a legislative or judicial body:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
Such lawing also shall be done by the assize commonly used, and which is, that three claws shall be cut off without the ball of the right foot.
It may be that your name is being called even at this very moment at the Great Assize. Repent while there is still time.
But when, at the Assize Court, he brought in the key to the whole case, he did not tell the whole truth.
I have known ambition, when cured at court by frequent disappointments (which are the only physic for it), to break out again in a contest for foreman of the grand jury at an assizes; and have heard of a man who had so far conquered avarice, as to give away many a sixpence, that comforted himself, at last, on his deathbed, by making a crafty and advantageous bargain concerning his ensuing funeral, with an undertaker who had married his only child.
Under these circumstances the young man was instantly arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out before the coroner and the police-court."
Hetty's trial must come on at the Lent assizes, and they were to be held at Stoniton the next week.
My trial was to come on at the approaching assizes; when, on the 8th of September -- that is to say, precisely three months and five days after the events which had perilled my life -- the Abbe Busoni, whom I never ventured to believe I should see, presented himself at the prison doors, saying he understood one of the prisoners wished to speak to him; he added, that having learned at Marseilles the particulars of my imprisonment, he hastened to comply with my desire.
He spoke to him as before, over his shoulder and in the same tone of voice, rather high, so that all the room might hear, but perfectly calm and steady: "If you do not put that knife this instant in your pocket, I promise, upon my honour, you shall hang at the next assizes."
I know what it is, for Mr Musgrove always attends the assizes, and I am so glad when they are over, and he is safe back again."
She tried to inveigle the young barristers at assizes and encouraged Jim to bring home friends with whom he went out hunting with the H.
It was part of Rosamond's cleverness to discern very subtly the faintest aroma of rank, and once when she had seen the Miss Brookes accompanying their uncle at the county assizes, and seated among the aristocracy, she had envied them, notwithstanding their plain dress.
In their eyes, crime belongs to the assizes or the police-courts; but the socially refined evils escape their ken; the adroitness that triumphs under shield of the Code is above them or beneath them; they have neither eye-glass nor telescope; they want good stout horrors easily visible.