▪ I. judge, n.
(dʒʌdʒ)
Forms: 4–6 iuge, 4–5 iugge, (4 iug, 5 iewge, ioge), 6–7 iudge, (7–8 judg), 7– judge.
[ME. a. OF. juge = Pr. jutge; cf. Sp. juez, It. judice:—L. jūdicem (nom. jūdex), f. jū-s right, law + -dic-us speaking, speaker.
The F. and Pr. forms do not phonetically represent L. jūdicem, of which the F. repr. would be juze (cf. onze, douze, treize); they are usually referred to a by-form judic-us, -um; though some explain them as conformed to the vb. juger:—jūdicāre.]
1. a. A public officer appointed to administer the law; one who has authority to hear and try causes in a court of justice.
As a generic or descriptive term, judge is applicable to any person occupying such an official position, but by usage, it has, in the United Kingdom, become much restricted as a particular designation. Collectively, the members of the Supreme Court of Judicature are ‘His Majesty's Judges’; so we say ‘the Judges of the Supreme Court’, ‘Common Law Judges’, ‘Chancery Judges’, ‘Equity Judges’, ‘Judges of Assize or of the Circuit Courts’; but individually these are mostly styled (Lord, or Mr.) justice (q.v.). In Scotland, the Judges of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary are individually styled lord. Certain judges have other special designations, as ‘President’, ‘Recorder’, etc. But the name is regularly given in England to the presiding officer of a County Court, who is officially styled ‘His Honour Judge A―’. The persons presiding judicially, in inferior courts are usually called ‘justices’ or ‘magistrates’. In the United States ‘Judge’ is more widely applied to the presiding officer of any judicial court below the Supreme Court, in which the official name is ‘Justice’ (see b below); ‘Judge’ has also been more used as a designation in some British colonies or dependencies. Historically, the name cleaves to certain noted persons as ‘Judge Gascoigne’, ‘Judge Jeffreys’.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 5639 Before þe Iuge was he broghte. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. viii. 171 Ȝe Meires and ȝe Maister Iuges..for wyse men ben holden. 1382 Wyclif Luke xviii. 2 Sum iuge was in sum citee, which dredde not God, nether schamede of men. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 662 Bathe, jureez, and juggez, and justicez of landes. a 1450 Cov. Myst. xxv. (Shaks. Soc.) 246 They arn temperal jewgys. 1530 Palsgr. 235/1 Judge of a towne, escheuin. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 224 A Daniel come to iudgement, yea a Daniel. O wise young Iudge, how do I honour thee. 1612 Bacon Ess., Judicature (Arb.) 450 Ivdges ought to remember, that their office is Ius dicere, and not Jus dare; to interprete law, and not to make law, or giue Law. 1823 Mrs. Markham [Eliz. Penrose] Hist. Eng. (1872) 365 The cruelties perpetrated in the king's name by Judge Jeffreys and Colonel Kirk in the West of England have left a stain on their memories. 1844 Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. xvii. (1862) 273 The analogy of the Common Law Bench has been followed in the case of all the other Equity Judges. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. viii. (1871) I. 518 Not a single Judge had ventured to declare that the Declaration of Indulgence was legal. 1855 Ibid. xxi. II. 566 The chiefs of the three Courts of Common Law and several other Judges were on the bench. 1874 Green Short Hist. ii. vi. 93 The judicial visitations, the ‘judges’ circuits', which still form so marked a feature in our legal system. 1885 C. M. Yonge Eng. Hist. Reading-bk. iii. 142 One story says that one of the Prince's friends was carried before Judge Gascoigne. |
b. With qualification, as circuit-judge, a judge of a circuit court; spec. in U.S. the judge appointed to preside alone, or with the district j., or a justice of the Supreme Court, over one of the nine circuits into which the country is divided; city judge (or municipal judge), county judge, district judge, local magistrates in U.S.; judge ordinary, spec. the judge of the Court of Probate and Divorce, previous to 1875; judge-advocate, judge-arbitral, judge in eyre, puisne judge, etc.: see advocate, etc.
| 1469 Sc. Acts Jas. III (1597) §26 Schireffes and vther Iudges Ordinar, quhilkis will not execute their office, and minister Iustice to the puir people. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 29 He was chosin ane juge-arbitrall to discus certane hie debates falling amang his freindis of Ireland. 1748 J. Lind Lett. Navy (1757) II. 81 The witnesses..give their evidence to the judge advocate. 1748 Earthquake Peru i. 62 With the Assistance of a Judge-Conservator. 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) 63 The Prisoner may apply to any of the Lords of Justiciary, or Judge-competent. 1815 Wellington Let. to Earl Bathurst 2 June in Gurw. Desp. XII. 439, I find it scarcely possible to get on without some legal person in the situation of Judge Advocate. 1862 Latham Channel Isl. iii. xv. (ed. 2) 356 The absolute cessation of the Judges-in-Eyre of Normandy visiting the island. 1863 H. Cox Instit. ii. xi. 572 The Judge Ordinary of the Court of Probate is constituted Judge Ordinary of the Divorce Court. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xix. 351 The pope had..appointed judges-delegate to hear the parties in England. 1889 Bryce Amer. Commw. (ed. 2) xxii. I. 227 The Circuit court may be held either by the Circuit Judge alone, or by the Supreme court Circuit justice alone, or by both together, or by either sitting alone with the District judge. Ibid. I. 597 The city judges are..in most of the larger cities..elected by the citizens... There are usually several superior judges..and a larger number of police judges or justices. |
c. Phrases, as grave, sober, as a judge.
| 1650 Cowley Guardian ii. ii. sig. B3/2 If I look not as grave as a Judge upon the bench, let me be hanged for't. 1734 Fielding Don Quixote in England iii. xiv. 57, I am as sober as a Judge. 1842 Dickens Let. 28 Mar. (1938) I. 423, I remained as grave as a judge. 1856 Reade Never too late lii, It was revealed to me..says he, as grave as a judge. 1866 Mayne Reid Headless Horseman xliv. 210 I'm as sober as a judge. 1889 [see grave a.1 3]. |
d. Judges' Rules: (see quot. 19652).
| 1925 Criminal Appeal Rep. XVIII. 47 The Judges' Rules for the guidance of the Police discussed. 1931 D. L. Sayers Five Red Herrings vii. 80 Between the Judges' Rules..and his anxiety to pull off a coup, he felt his position to be a difficult one. 1965 J. Porter Dover Two iv. 54 And don't start quoting the Judges' Rules to me... The only time you need bother about the Judges' Rules is when the accused person's likely to know more about 'em than you do. 1965 Stone's Justices' Manual (ed. 97) I. 368 The Judges' Rules, made by Her Majesty's judges of the Queen's Bench Division, are concerned with the admissibility in evidence against a person of answers, oral or written, given by that person to questions asked by police officers and of statements made by that person. 1973 ‘M. Innes’ Appleby's Answer xix. 167 Miss Pringle wondered whether..she would..perhaps receive some caution required by what are called Judges' Rules. |
2. Used of God or Christ, as supreme arbiter, pronouncing sentence on men and moral beings. Cf. judgement 4.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter vii. 12 God rightwis iuge stalworth and suffrand. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxii. (Laurentius) 662 Þat þai come to þe Iug in hy. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xiii. 56 Before Godd þe souerayne Iugge. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Te Deum, We beleue that thou shalt come to be our iudge. 1611 Bible Gen. xviii. 25 Shall not the Iudge of all the earth doe right? a 1769 R. Riccaltoun Notes Galatians (1772) 46 God the creator, Sovereign and judge. 1811 Heber Hymn ‘Lord of mercy & of might’ v, Soon to come to earth again, Judge of angels and of men. 1880 Pusey Min. Proph. 119 (Joel ii. 12) The strict Judge cannot be overcome, for He is omnipotent. |
3. a. Hebrew Hist. An officer (usually a leader in war) invested with temporary authority, in ancient Israel in the period between Joshua and the kings. b. pl. (in full, the Book of Judges): the seventh book of the Old Testament, containing the history of this period. [After L. jūdex as transl. Heb. shōphēt. The Book of Judges represents Liber Judicum, Hebraice Sophetim (i.e. Shōph'tīm) of the Vulgate.]
| 1382 Wyclif Judg. ii. 16 The Lord areride iugis, that shulden delyuer him fro the hoondis of wasters. ― Ruth i. 1 In the days of oon iuge, whanne the iugis weren before in power. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. i. 1 The childeryn of Israell..were ruled bi hym [God] vndir Juges regaliter et politice. 1579 Fulke Ref. Rastel 756 In the Iudges, Manoah saide to the Angell..wee may offer to thee a kidde. 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 422 O Iephta Iudge of Israel, what a Treasure had'st thou? Mod. The Song of Deborah and Barak is given in the fifth chapter of Judges. |
4. A person appointed to decide in any contest, competition, or dispute; an arbiter, umpire.
| c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1779, I wol be trewe Iuge and no partie. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV 12 That he woulde..be the discoverer and indifferente iudge..of their couragious actes. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. v. 136 The same that sung Neæra's conqu'ring Eyes; And, had the Judge been just, had won the Prize. 1728 Pope Dunc. ii. 376 To him we grant our amplest pow'rs to sit Judge of all present, past, and future wit. 1882 J. Parker Apost. Life I. 140 No blind man will be appointed as a judge of pictures in the Academy. Mod. He was one of the judges at a flower-show. |
5. a. One who or that which judges of, determines, or decides anything in question. Often in phr. to be judge = to judge, determine, form an opinion, give a decision.
| c 1470 Henry Wallace viii. 54 Now God be juge, the rycht he kennys best. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xxvii. 104 The swete balle of the eye, whiche is the veraye receptacle interyor of lyght visible, and Iuge of the colours by reflection obgectyf. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. v. iv. 36 Oh Heauen be iudge how I loue Valentine. 1596 ― Merch. V. ii. v. 1 Well, thou shalt see: thy eyes shall be thy iudge. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. vi. 165 The received custome in the place where we live is the most competent judge of decency. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) I. 322 If Fancy be left judg of any thing, she must be judg of all. 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. II. ix. ii. 403 Approvable as a practical officer and soldier by the strictest judge then living. |
† b. transf. A criterion. Obs. rare.
| 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. i. vi. §8 How could such a coppy be the Judge of all others, which could not be read or understood by those who appealed to it? |
6. A person qualified to form or pronounce an opinion; one capable of judging or estimating.
| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 3 That the understanding of all Scripture must be fetched at his hande, as of a mooste certen iudge. 1653 Walton Angler To Rdr. 2, I here disallow thee to be a competent judge. 1713 Steele Englishm. No. 46. 302, I think my self a pretty good Judg of Mens Mien and Air. 1796 R. Bage Hermsprong xxv, I am no judge of the very handsome in men. 1836–9 Dickens Sk. Boz, Parlour Orator, You, gentlemen, are the best judges on that point. 1891 E. Peacock N. Brendon I. 308 You are certainly not a good judge of character. |
† 7. Applied to the rook or castle in chess. Obs. rare.
Judge is here Fitzherbert's rendering of justitiarius, the name applied to the rook in the 13–14th c. Latin treatise Moralitas de Scaccario secundum Innocentium tertium papam, which is the source of Fitzherbert's chess-lore.
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. Prol., The boke of the moralytes of the cheese..deuyded in vi. degrees, that is to saye, the kynge, the quene, the byshops, the knightes, the iudges, and the yomenne. |
8. Angling. Name for a kind of artificial fly.
| 1867 F. Francis Angling xi. (1880) 430 The Judge..A very tasty fly. |
9. Mining. ‘A staff used for gauging the depth of the holing’ (Gresley Gloss. 1883).
| 1875 J. H. Collins Metal Mining Gloss., Judge, a staff used for underground measurements. 1881 Raymond Mining Gloss., Judge, a measuring-stick to measure coal-work under ground. |
10. Comb., as judge-like adj. and adv.; judge-made a. (of law), constituted by judicial decisions; † judge-man, a judge.
| 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xxv, I heard the *Judge-carle say it with my ain ears. |
| 1670 Dryden 1st Pt. Conq. Granada i. i. Wks. 1883 IV. 35 *Judge-like thou sit'st, to praise, or to arraign. |
| 1824 J. S. Mill in Westm. Rev. I. 510 The common judge-made definition of a public libel, is, any thing which tends to bring the constituted authorities into hatred and contempt. 1832 Austin Jurispr. (1873) II. xxix. 549 The term ‘Judge-made law’ would seem to denote law made by subject judges, as opposed to law made by the sovereign Legislature. 1863 H. Cox Instit. ii. iii. 328 With respect to all judicial or judge-made law. 1965 Mod. Law Rev. XXVIII. v. 510 The clash between democracy and judge-made law. |
| a 1400–50 Alexander 3402 Þe Iustis & þe gentils & *Iugemen of lawe. c 1440 York Myst. xxix. 1 Full arely the juggemen demed hym to dye. |
| 1672 Wycherley Love in a Wood ii. i, Your chamber-wit, or scribble-wit, and last of all your *judge-wit, or critic. |
▪ II. judge, v.
(dʒʌdʒ)
Forms: 3–5 iugge, 3–6 iuge, (5 iewge, 6 guge), 6–7 iudge, (7–8 judg), 7– judge.
[ME. a. OF. jugier, AF. juger = Pr. jutjar, jutgar, Sp. juzgar, lt. giudicare:—L. jūdicāre, f. jūdex, jūdicem judge.]
I. Transitive senses.
1. To try, or pronounce sentence upon (a person) in a court of justice; to sit in judgement upon. (Also said of God or Christ: cf. prec. 2.)
| c 1290 S.E. Leg. I. 183/89 Heo stoden and Iuggeden hire a-mong heom alle. 1382 Wyclif John xii. 48 He that dispisith me..hath him that schal iuge him. 1483 Caxton Cato G iij, Whan tho seest somme persone euyl fortunate or accused or iuged of somme vyce. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 11 Our Mediator and our remeid, Sall cum to Juge baith quick and deide. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 330 Then all thy Saints asembl'd, thou shalt judge Bad men and Angels. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 408 The dead are first of all judged according to their deeds. |
† 2. spec. To pronounce sentence against (a person); to sentence, condemn. Const. to (the penalty), or to do or suffer (something). Obs.
| c 1310 Flemish Insurr. in Pol. Songs (Camden) 190 The barouns of Fraunce a thider conne gon..To jugge the Flemmisshe to bernen and to slon. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 116 (Apostles' Creed) At þe laste he schal come doun here to man, and jugge sum to blysse and oþer to helle. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) III. 291 He [Socrates] was iuggede to prison, and poysonede in prison. c 1450 Merlin 15 Ye shull neuer be Iuged to deth for my cause. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxxxii. 252 The kynge iuged Huon to dye. a 1626 Bacon Max. & Uses Com. Law (1635) 17 Some whose offences are pilfring..they judge to be whipped. 1675 Brooks Gold. Key Wks. 1867 V. 129 To call the souls to an account, and judge them to their state. |
3. To give sentence concerning (a matter); to try (a cause); to determine, decide (a question).
| 1513 More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 766 To remaine..till the matter were..examined..and either iudged or appeased. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 142 It was agreed, that all matters concernyng the aforesayde articles or statutes..should be demed and iudged by the French king. 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. 248 The Consul of the City there..is vulgarly called Burgomaster, and he judgeth all civill and criminal causes. 1690 Tate & Brady Ps. xxxv. 1 Judge and defend my cause, O Lord. |
4. To decide by judicial authority that something is to be done, or is the fact; to decree, order. (With obj. and inf., or obj. clause.)
| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 2609 Bi heighe mennes conseyl The king was iugged Ygerne to spouse. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 106 Ȝif þe Iustise wol Iugge hire to be Ioynet with Fals. Ȝit be-war of þe weddyng, for witti is treuþe. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 101 Thenne the kyng iuged that the child shold be gyuen to her that wold haue hym to be saued. 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 77 But the pretendents being heard, the King shoulde iudge to whom the Realme belonged. |
5. To assign or award by judgement; to adjudge; to decree. Now rare or Obs.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 181 Cesar is i-made consul, and Gallia was iuged [decreta] to him. c 1400 Destr. Troy 2407 Yf þou luge it to Iono, this ioye shall þou haue. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon ci. 332 Ye false traytours, youre dethes is Iuged. 1595 [see judged]. 1634 Milton L'Allegro 122 Ladies whose bright eyes Rain influence and judge the prize Of wit or arms. 1817 W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 704 Where two persons are in possession, the possession is judged in him who hath right. |
† 6. To administer (law) as a judge. Obs.
| c 1380 Antecrist in Todd Three Treat. Wyclif (1851) 144 Þei syten in þe trones wiþ gloriouse myters jugyng & demyng her owne made lawes. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 180 To deme and jugge commun lawe. |
7. To have jurisdiction over, to govern or rule as an Israelitish judge (cf. prec. 3). Also absol. To hold the office of a judge.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 7018 Barach, and wit him Delbora, Þai iuged fourti yeir or ma. c 1450 Cov. Myst. xxx. (Shaks. Soc.) 303 Herowde is kyng of that countre, To jewge that regyon in lenth and in brede. 1558 Knox First Blast (Arb.) 40 The example of Debora..when she iudged Israel. 1611 Bible Judg. xii. 13 After him, Abdon, the sonne of Hillel a Pirathonite iudged Israel. |
8. To declare or pronounce authoritatively (a person) to be (so-and-so). Const. for, or with inf., or simple complement. ? Obs. or merged in 11 b.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 6311 God iugged me for a theef trichour. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 50 Beyng..suche a one (as Appollo iudged hym by his Oracle to bee wise). 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. 4 Hee was judged an unprofitable servant. 1721 St. German's Doctor & Stud. 219 That he should be taken for heir, that should be judged for heir by the law. |
† b. with obj. clause. To pronounce as an opinion or authoritative statement; to declare. Obs.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. i. 183 For Iames þe gentil iugged in his bokes, That faith with-oute þe faite is riȝte no þinge worthi. |
9. To form an opinion about; to exercise the mind upon (something) so as to arrive at a correct or sound notion of it; to estimate; to appraise.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 118 No mon ne mei juggen blod wel er hit beo cold. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 7 Quere-so-euer I Iugged gemmez gaye, I sette hyr sengeley in synglure. 1486 Bk. St. Albans E j b, The .vi. yere euermoore at the leest Thow shalt well Iuge the perche of thessame beest. 1535 Coverdale 1 Cor. x. 15, I speake vnto them which haue discrecioun: iudge ye what I say. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, iii. ii. 194 Men iudge by the complexion of the Skie The state and inclination of the day. 1671 Temple Orig. Govt. §6 The safety and firmness of any frame of government may be best judged by the rules of architecture. 1709 Pope Ess. Crit. 337 But most by Numbers judge a Poet's song. 1864 Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. xxi. (1875) 378 Institutions, like men, should be judged by their prime. |
† b. transf. To be a test or criterion of. rare.
| 1586 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. i. ii, If outward habit judge the inward man. |
10. To pronounce an opinion upon, to criticize; esp. to pronounce an adverse opinion upon, to condemn, censure. Also absol. (In quot. 1377, To express or pronounce one's opinion about.)
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. ii. 94 To drynke at dyuerse tauernes, And there to iangle and to iape, and iugge here euene cristene. Ibid. vii. 161 Þanne Iacob iugged iosephes sweuene. 1526 Tindale Matt. vii. 1, 2 Iudge not lest ye be iudged. For as ye iudge so shal ye be iudged. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, Prol. 34 Who Prologue-like, your humble patience pray, Gently to heare, kindly to iudge our Play. 1782 Cowper Progr. Err. 611 But if the wanderer his mistake discern, Judge his own ways, and sigh for a return. 1884 Contemp. Rev. XLVI. 99 Every workman was thus known and judged by those who could judge him best. |
11. with obj. clause. To form the opinion, or hold as an opinion; to come to a conclusion, infer; to apprehend, think, consider, suppose.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4154 Ac þe king ne Iugede noȝt þat it ssolde be so ydo. Ibid. 9354 Me Iuggede wat it ssolde be to tokni þis cas. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 1203 He nyste what he Iuggen of it myghte. 1508 Dunbar's Flyting 48** Iuge in the nixt quha got the war. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 177 As by an Ivie garland, we iudge there is wine to sell. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. ii. 139, I see things too, although you iudge I winke. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 224 Small townes I judge they were. 1796 E. Hamilton Lett. Hindoo Rajah I. 206 Judge how this shocked and offended me? 1850 Scoresby Cheever's Whalem. Adv. vii. (1859) 97 Some whalemen judge it does not attain its full size until twenty-five years. |
b. with obj. and inf. or simple complement (rarely with to or for): To infer, conclude, or suppose to be.
| 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 697 Iuno þe ioilese ȝe iuggen for noble. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. ix. 84 Iuwes þat we iugge Iudas felawes. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 169 Þanne þe wounde is iugid mortal. c 1477 Caxton Jason 13 Iuging in him grete corage. 1538 Starkey England i. ii. 58 The sanguyn complexyon ys gugyd of other chefe and best for the mayntenance of helthe of the body. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. iii. i. 25 When they haue iudg'd me fast asleepe. 1653 Walton Angler i. 13, I hope you will not judge my earnestness to be impatience. 1727 Gay Fables i. xxiii, Who friendship with a knave hath made, Is judg'd a partner in the trade. 1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sc. i. ii. 119 They judge the Moon to be a Globe like our Earth. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xviii. 115 It was..judged better to begin the attack at once. |
12. with cognate obj. (esp. with qualification).
| 1526 Tindale John vii. 24 Judge not after the vtter aperaunce: but iudge rightewes iudgement. 1560 [see judgement 3]. |
† 13. refl. ? To submit oneself to the judgement of; to commit oneself to. Obs. rare.
| c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 308 Yf þe trewth be sowth..& that I Iugge me to skryptur. |
II. Intransitive senses.
14. To act as judge; to try causes and pronounce sentences in a court of justice; to sit in judgement.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 54 (Te Deum) Þou art bileeved to come for to juge at þe laste day. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xxiii. 19 And spiritus iusticie shal Iugen, wol he, nul he, After þe kynges counsaile and þe comune lyke. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. viii. 41, 2. other officers, which..may iudge of small matters being under the value of twenty crownes. 1639 S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 83 As for Civill matters they may judge without appeale. 1756–7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) III. 312 It was not so with the Italian princes, who judged without appeal. 1865 Seeley Ecce Homo iii. (ed. 8) 25 A warrior-king, judging in the gate of Jerusalem. |
15. To give a decision or opinion on any matter, esp. between contending parties; to arbitrate.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 304 Crist forsook to juge in temporal goodis. 1470–85 Malory Arthur iv. xii, Yet wylle I [Arthur] Iuge..I wylle that ye gyue vnto your broder alle the hole manoir with the appertenaunce. 1535 Coverdale Isa. v. 3 Judge I praye you betwixte me and my wyne gardinge. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. iv. 10 Judge you, my Lord of Warwicke, then betweene vs. 1694 Dryden Love Triumph. Prol. 18 If you continue judging, as you do, Every bad play will hope for damning too. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 278 God must judge 'twixt man and me. |
16. To form an opinion; to arrive at a notion, esp. a sound or correct notion, about something; to make up one's mind as to the truth of a matter; in Logic, To apprehend mentally the relation of two objects; to make a mental assertion or statement. Const. of.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. Proem 21 A blynd man ne kan luggen wel yn hewys. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 282 Of þis ydropesie summen iugiþ liȝtli, and seien [etc.]. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iii. v. 52 Let her consider his frailety, and then iudge of my merit. a 1679 Hobbes Rhet. iii. (1681) 4 If he judg, he must judg either of that which is to come or of that which is past. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) II. 102 To be able to judg of both, 'tis necessary to have a sense of each. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) III. 141 If we were to judge of its size by the horns. 1843 Mill Logic i. v. §1 When the mind assents to a proposition it judges. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xvi. 117 From its form and colour he could..judge of its condition. 1885 J. Martineau Types Eth. The. I. i. ii. ii. §2. 157 Understanding never judges... It is the Will that really judges and decides on what is presented to it by the Understanding. |