arraign Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb call before a court to answer an indictment
  2. verb accuse of a wrong or an inadequacy

WordNet

Ar*raign" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. arainen, arenen, OF. aragnier, aranier, araisnier, F. arraisonner, fr. LL. arrationare to address to call before court; L. ad + ratio reason, reasoning, LL. cause, judgment. See Reason.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Arraigned present participle & verbal noun Arraigning
Definitions
  1. (Law) To call or set as a prisoner at the bar of a court to answer to the matter charged in an indictment or complaint. Blackstone.
  2. To call to account, or accuse, before the bar of reason, taste, or any other tribunal.
    They will not arraign you for want of knowledge. Dryden.
    It is not arrogance, but timidity, of which the Christian body should now be arraigned by the world. I. Taylor.
    Syn. -- To accuse; impeach; charge; censure; criminate; indict; denounce. See Accuse.
Ar*raign" noun
Definitions
  1. Arraignment; as, the clerk of the arraigns. Blackstone. Macaulay.
Ar*raign" transitive verb
Etymology
From OF. aramier, fr. LL. adhramire.
Definitions
  1. (Old Eng. Law) To appeal to; to demand; as, to arraign an assize of novel disseizin.

Webster 1913