oyer

noun

oy·​er

ˈȯiər

plural -s

1

: a criminal trial held under a commission of oyer and terminer

2

a

: the hearing of a document read in court

specifically : the hearing of a deed or other instrument read in court by petition of a party to a suit

b

: a copy of the instrument given rather than read to the petitioning party

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Old French oir to hear, from Latin audire

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!