Etymologically
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judicial

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:51. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /d͡ʒuˈdɪʃəl/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin jūdiciālis (“of a court of justice”),[2][3][4] from jūdicium (“judgment, decision of a court”), from jūdex (“judge”) (see judge),[2][3][5] a compound of ius, right, law, and the root of dicere, to say.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of courts, judges or justice: before 1382, in the Wycliffe Bible.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century it also meant giving judgement, invested with authority to judge (1561).[4][6] In theology, inflicted by God as a judgement, it is from 1613.[6] Of a judge or proper to one is from 1800,[6] and judicial combat, a duel to settle a controversy, from 1820.[6]

Timeline

  • before 1382 – of courts of law.[2]
  • 1561 – having the function of judging.[6]
  • 1613 – inflicted as divine judgement.[6]
  • 1800 – proper to a judge.[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of or relating to courts of law or the administration of justice.
  2. Decreed by a court.
  3. Proper to the office of a judge.
  4. Showing judgment; discriminating.

Word family

  • judicially
  • judicialness
  • nonjudicial
  • unjudicial
  • extrajudicial

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press