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Arraigning: meaning, definitions and examples

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arraigning

 

[ əˈreɪnɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal proceedings

Arraigning refers to the formal reading of a criminal charging document in the presence of the defendant to inform them of the charges against them. This process is a crucial step in the legal system, ensuring that the accused is aware of the allegations and can enter a plea. During an arraignment, the defendant may respond with a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. This step typically occurs after the defendant has been arrested and is a precursor to trials or hearings.

Synonyms

charging, presenting, summoning

Examples of usage

  • The defendant is arraigning in front of the judge today.
  • After being arrested, he was arraigning on multiple charges.
  • During the arraigning, the defendant requested a public defender.
  • The arraignment process took less than an hour.

Translations

Translations of the word "arraigning" in other languages:

🇵🇹 acusação

🇮🇳 दोषारोपण

🇩🇪 Anklage

🇮🇩 penuntutan

🇺🇦 обвинувачення

🇵🇱 oskarżenie

🇯🇵 起訴

🇫🇷 accusation

🇪🇸 acusación

🇹🇷 iddianame

🇰🇷 기소

🇸🇦 اتهام

🇨🇿 obvinění

🇸🇰 obvinenie

🇨🇳 控告

🇸🇮 obtožba

🇮🇸 sökun

🇰🇿 айыптау

🇬🇪 ბრალდებით

🇦🇿 ittiham

🇲🇽 acusación

Word origin

The word 'arraigning' is derived from the Old French word 'arainer', which means 'to put to trial or to bring to court'. The term evolved from the Latin word 'adrenare', which translates to 'to summon or bring forward'. The process of arraignment has roots in medieval English law, where it was used to formally accuse someone of a crime in court. The concept of arraignment emphasizes the importance of ensuring that defendants are properly informed of the charges they face, preserving the integrity of the legal process. Over the centuries, 'arraigning' has remained a fundamental aspect of the criminal justice system, reflecting the principles of justice and the rights of individuals to be heard in a court of law.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,128, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.