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. assizesa. 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) n1. (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]
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