verdict
Meaning
A decision made by a jury in a court of law about whether someone is guilty or not.
An opinion or judgment made after considering the facts.
Structure
Usage
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
The critic's verdict on the new film was overwhelmingly positive.
We are still waiting for the committee's verdict on the funding proposal.
Etymology
The word "verdict" is a direct borrowing from Anglo-Norman French verdit, itself derived from the Latin phrase veredictum, meaning "a true saying" or "a true declaration." This Latin compound is formed from verus (true) and dictum (thing said). It entered Middle English in the legal context of a jury's formal finding of fact. The core logic of the word has remained remarkably consistent: from its literal ancient meaning of "a true statement," it evolved to signify the authoritative and final pronouncement of a jury, and later, by metaphorical extension, any decisive opinion or conclusion.
Analysis
- ver: From Latin verus (true). Functions as a root meaning "true." - dict: From Latin dictum (thing said), from dicere (to say). Functions as a root meaning "saying" or "speech."