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arraign

verb

/əˈreɪn/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of arraign

To bring an individual before a court of law to formally read the charges against them and to have them enter a plea, typically "guilty" or "not guilty."
"The court will arraign the suspect next week on charges of theft."

Detailed meaning of arraign

Arraignment is a critical stage in the criminal justice system, where the accused person is informed of the specific allegations or crimes they are charged with. During this process, the judge or a court official reads out the charges, informs the defendant of their legal rights, and requests them to respond to the charges by entering a plea. It is an essential step in ensuring due process and safeguarding the rights of the accused, as it initiates the formal legal proceedings and sets the stage for the subsequent legal actions, such as trial or plea negotiations.

Example sentences containing arraign

1. The court will arraign the suspect on multiple charges, including fraud and embezzlement.
2. Authorities plan to arraign the former executive next week for insider trading.
3. If captured, they will arraign the fugitive for escape, adding to his list of charges.
4. The district attorney is preparing to arraign the individual on charges of tax evasion.
5. Legal experts expect the judge to arraign the defendant without setting a bail amount.
6. Police will arraign the arrested protesters, who face charges of unlawful assembly.

History and etymology of arraign

The verb 'arraign' has its etymological roots in Old French, where it was spelled as 'arener' or 'araner.' These Old French forms can be traced back to the Latin word 'ad rationem,' which means 'to bring to reason' or 'to call to account.' In English, 'arraign' is used to describe the legal process of bringing an individual before a court of law to formally read the charges against them and to have them enter a plea, typically 'guilty' or 'not guilty.' The etymology of 'arraign' highlights the act of calling someone to account for their actions and subjecting them to the legal process to determine their culpability or innocence, reflecting the historical origins of this term in the administration of justice.

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Further usage examples of arraign

1. Human rights organizations are urging authorities to arraign the detainees promptly.
2. The prosecution is ready to arraign the accused, who is implicated in a bribery case.
3. Officials will arraign the suspect overseas using a video link, due to extradition issues.
4. The state will arraign the landlord for violating tenants' rights and housing laws.
5. In a high-profile case, the judge will arraign a celebrity accused of sexual misconduct.
6. The sheriff's office plans to arraign the individuals involved in illegal hunting activities.
7. Federal authorities intend to arraign the hacker on counts of cyberterrorism.
8. They will arraign the alleged smugglers at the port of entry for violating customs laws.
9. Legal proceedings will commence next week to arraign the accused serial killer.
10. The court will arraign the suspects in separate hearings, given the complexity of the case.
11. Authorities will arraign the individual implicated in the drug ring on multiple counts.
12. The attorney general plans to arraign corrupt officials who manipulated public funds.
13. Local authorities will arraign the group of activists on charges of civil disobedience.
14. The decision to arraign the politician so close to elections has sparked controversy.
15. In a rare move, the military will arraign one of its officers for leaking classified info.
16. Critics argue that authorities hastily arraign protesters to stifle dissent.
17. Prosecutors are under pressure to arraign the individuals involved in the high-stakes fraud.
18. The judiciary aims to arraign the suspect swiftly to demonstrate the rule of law.
19. The court is scheduled to arraign the accused arsonist after the preliminary investigations.
20. Law enforcement will arraign the suspects on racketeering charges related to organized crime.
21. The presiding judge will arraign the defendants in a closed session due to national security.
22. Police have yet to arraign the suspect, who remains at large after evading capture.
23. Federal agents will arraign the individual implicated in counterfeit currency distribution.
24. The court must arraign the alleged spies before proceeding to the next stage of the trial.