verdict

Where does the word "verdict" come from? It comes from Latin vere dictum, passing through Anglo-French before entering English (1300s).

Verdict’s story begins in Latin: vere dictum meant “truly said.” Literally truly said, from verus (true) and dictum (said). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Anglo-French as verdit. Carried into legal French for a jury's formal decision. It reached English by 1300s as verdict. Settled as the English word for a jury's formal decision. Today, verdict means a decision on a disputed issue, especially by a jury in a court case.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vere dictum "truly said", literally truly said, from verus (true) and dictum (said).
2. Stage 2 · Anglo-French · medieval verdit "a jury's formal decision", carried into legal French for a jury's formal decision.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s verdict "a jury's formal decision on a matter", settled as the English word for a jury's formal decision.