oyez

or o·yes

[ oh-yes, oh-yez ]

interjection

1. hear! attend! (a cry uttered usually twice by a court officer to command silence and attention, as before court is in session, and formerly by public criers).

noun

, plural oyesses.

1. a cry of “oyez.”

oyez

/ -ˈjɛz; əʊˈjɛs /

interjection

1. a cry, usually uttered three times, by a public crier or court official for silence and attention before making a proclamation

noun

1. such a cry

Word History and Origins

Origin of oyez¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Anglo-French, plural imperative of oyer; oyer

Word History and Origins

Origin of oyez¹

C15: via Anglo-Norman from Old French oiez! hear!

Example Sentences

With this year’s term again presenting a docket that looks like a wish list personally stuffed into Justice Clarence Thomas’ breast pocket by Harlan Crow after a long day of duck hunting, people should be forgiven if they find themselves turning queasy at the first cry of “Oyez, oyez!”

From Slate

A town crier then rang a bell and boomed, as Charles chuckled: "Oyez, oyez, oyez! I officially proclaim Colchester Zoo's newest addition as baby Dara."

From BBC

As the Oyez Project summarizes, the high court held in the 1964 decision that "to sustain a claim of defamation or libel, the First Amendment requires that the plaintiff show that the defendant knew that a statement was false or was reckless in deciding to publish the information without investigating whether it was accurate."

From Salon

The chief had assigned the investigation to Ms. Curley, the marshal, whose best-known task was crying “Oyez, oyez, oyez!” as justices entered the courtroom.

From New York Times

“And that’s just the bad beginning. But, not to worry, I have come up with the happy ending! You see, fellow library lovers, kids all across this wondermous country are eager to prove that they are bibliophilic champions, too. Therefore, oyez, oyez, and hear ye, hear ye.”

From Literature