oyer and terminer Hear it!

oyer and terminer definition

oyer and ter·mi·ner (ō′yər and tʉr′mi nər, o̵i′ər-)

  1. a commission issued to English judges authorizing them to hear and determine criminal cases at the assizes
  2. formerly in the U.S., the higher criminal courts

Etymology: ME, for Anglo-Fr oyer et terminer, lit., to hear and determine

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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