arraign

ar·raign

verb \ə-ˈrān\

Definition of ARRAIGN

transitive verb

1

: to call (a defendant) before a court to answer to an indictment : charge

2

: to accuse of wrong, inadequacy, or imperfection

— ar·raign·ment \-mənt\ noun

Origin of ARRAIGN

Middle English arreinen, from Anglo-French areisner, arener, from a- (from Latin ad-) + raisner to address, from Vulgar Latin *rationare, from Latin ration-, ratio reason — more at reason

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism