What does arraign mean Meaning and Definition
What does arraign mean
Pronunciation
/əˈreɪn/
Part of Speech
Verb
Definition
To formally accuse or charge someone with a crime, usually in a court of law, especially in preparation for a trial.
Examples
- The prosecutor will arraign the suspect at 9 am tomorrow.
- The lawyer arraigned the charges against her client.
Synonyms
- Accuse
- Charge
- Indict
Antonyms
- Absolve
- Acquit
- Dismiss
Etymology
The word “arraign” comes from the Old French “arraingier”, which means “to accuse or notify”. This is derived from the Latin “arraignare”, which means “to summon or notify”.
Usage Notes
Arraign is typically used in formal legal proceedings, such as a preliminary hearing or a trial. It is often used by a judge, prosecutor, or lawyer to formally accuse someone of a crime.
Cultural References
Arraign has been used in various forms of media, including literature, film, and television. For example, in the TV show “Law & Order”, the character Jack McCoy often arraigns defendants in court.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
None.
Related Words or Phrases
Accuse, charge, indict, notify, summon, notify.
Collocations
arraign a suspect, arraign a defendant, arraign a charge.
Frequency of Use
Arraign is a relatively uncommon word, but it is often used in formal legal contexts. According to the Corpus of Contemporary American English, “arraign” is used approximately 0.01 times per million words.
Common Misspellings
Arraine, Arange, Arian, Ariange.