Word of the Day

: October 17, 2013

adjudicate

verb uh-JOO-dih-kayt

What It Means

1 : to settle judicially

2 : to act as judge

adjudicate in Context

After a complaint has been filed, the panel has 30 days to adjudicate on the dispute.

"Both parties should ask the state Supreme Court to hear the case directly and adjudicate it fully on the merits. The justices should accept it." - From a column by Robert Robb in the Arizona Republic, September 17, 2013

Did You Know?

"Adjudicate" is one of several terms that give testimony to the influence of "jus," the Latin word for "law," on our legal language. "Adjudicate" is from the Latin verb "adjudicare," from "judicare," meaning "to judge," which, in turn, traces to the Latin noun "judex," meaning "judge." English has other "judex" words, such as "judgment," "judicial," "judiciary," and "prejudice." If we admit further evidence, we discover that the root of "judex" is "jus," the word for "law." What's the verdict? Latin "law" words frequently preside in English-speaking courtrooms. In addition to the "judex" words, "jury," "justice," "injury," and "perjury" are all ultimately from Latin "jus."