arraign

[ uh-reyn ]

verb (used with object)

1. Law. to call or bring before a court to answer to an indictment, a formal charge for which it has been ascertained that there is enough evidence to warrant trial:

   He is scheduled to be arraigned this morning on drug and gun charges.

2. to accuse or charge in general; criticize; censure:

   I am not arraigning Professor Wells for these omissions, only mentioning them to indicate how complex such questions can be.

arraign

/ əˈreɪn /

verb

1. to bring (a prisoner) before a court to answer an indictment
2. to call to account; complain about; accuse

Derived Forms

• arˈraignment, noun
• arˈraigner, noun

Other Words From

• ar·raign·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of arraign¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English arainen, from Anglo-French arainer, Old French araisnier, equivalent to a- a- ⁵ + raisnier, from unrecorded Vulgar Latin ratiōnāre “to talk, reason”; ratio

Word History and Origins

Origin of arraign¹

C14: from Old French araisnier to speak, accuse, from a- ² + raisnier, from Vulgar Latin ratiōnāre (unattested) to talk, argue, from Latin ratiō a reasoning

Example Sentences

He was released Saturday afternoon and scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 6.

From Los Angeles Times

He has also been arraigned in court on charges of "threats, assaults, and abuse of public office".

From BBC

He is being held in lieu of $1-million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 19, according to the office.

From Los Angeles Times

Then in April 2021, just before McCartney was to be arraigned on some of the charges relating to the case, investigators discovered what had happened to Cimarron.

From BBC

She is scheduled to be arraigned Monday and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life if convicted, prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times