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oyer and terminer

(ō′yər and tʉr′mi nər, o̵i′ər-)

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

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

See oyer and terminer in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
Law

A hearing or trial.
A court of general criminal jurisdiction in some states of the United States.
a. A commission empowering a judge in Great Britain to hear and rule on a criminal case at the assizes.
b. The court in Great Britain where such a hearing is held.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , partial translation of Anglo-Norman oyer et terminer, to hear and determine

Origin: : oyer, to hear

Origin: + terminer, to determine

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