verdict
//ˈvɜː.dɪkt//
informalForms
- Plural
- verdicts
Definitions
1.A decision on an issue of fact in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.
- I hope the court overturns his verdict.
- The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
- When his body was retrieved, it was apparent that he had not raised his hands to cover his face. Had he suffered some sort of fit or seizure? The coroner’s verdict was accidental death.
2.An opinion or judgement.
- We've reached a verdict on your proposal.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4840
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English verdit, from Anglo-Norman verdit (> Medieval Latin veredictum), from veir (“true”) + dit (“saying”); possibly a calque of a Germanic term such as Old English sōþword, sōþsprǣċ, sōþspell, sōþsagu, or sōþcwide, all meaning "true story, statement of truth, account, history".