jury

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law

   You are entitled to a trial before a jury of your peers.

2. 2
   noun

   a committee appointed to judge a competition

   I was asked to be on the jury for an art exhibition.

3. 3
   noun

   A group of individuals chosen from the general population to hear and decide a case in a court of law.

   And so the jury and he approached, as if this were a time of peace instead of one of the greatest world disturbances ever known in history, the question whether the prosecution had proved to the jury’s satisfaction that George Joseph Smith was guilty of murder. The jury were the shield which stood between him and death, unless, to the jury’s satisfaction, he was proved to be guilty. Yet while they were the shield of the man accused, they were also the Sword of the State; and if the man were proved guilty, they were the servants of the State to punish him. Their respective functions were these: he the judge, had to settle the law, and the jury must take the law from him. The jury were judges of fact.

4. 4
   noun

   The audience attending the first night of a performance, whose reaction may determine whether it succeeds or fails.

   The jury which decides on the first night usually seals the fate of the season.

5. 5
   adj

   For temporary use; applied to a temporary contrivance.

   jury mast

6. 6
   noun

   A group of judges in a competition.

7. 7
   verb

   To judge by means of a jury.

Etymology

Early 1600s, of uncertain origin. Perhaps ultimately from Old French ajurie, from Latin adiūtō. Alternatively, perhaps ultimately from Frankish *garu (“ready, prepared”), related to Middle English yore, ȝare, from Old English ġeoro, ġearu (“ready, prompt, prepared, quick”), related to gear.