Definition: Judge

Etymology 1

From Middle English juge, jugge, from Old French juge, from Latin iūdex. Displaced native Middle English deme (from Old English dēma ("judge")), and demere (from Old English dēmere ("judge")).

Noun

judge (plural judges)

1. A public official whose duty it is to administer the law, especially by presiding over trials and rendering judgments; a justice.
2. A person who decides the fate of someone or something that has been called into question.
3. A person officiating at a sports event, a contest, or similar; referee.

   At a boxing match, the decision of the judges is final.

4. A person who evaluates something or forms an opinion.

   She is a good judge of wine.

   They say he is a poor judge of character considering all the unreliable friends he has made.

Etymology 2

From Middle English jugen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman juger, from Old French jugier, from Latin iūdicāre. Mostly displaced native deem.

Verb

judge (third-person singular simple present judges, present participle judging, simple past and past participle judged)

1. (transitive) To sit in judgment on; to pass sentence on (a person or matter).

   A higher power will judge you after you are dead.

2. (intransitive) To sit in judgment, to act as judge.

   Justices in this country judge without appeal.

3. (transitive) To judicially rule or determine.
4. (transitive) To form an opinion on; to appraise.

   I judge a man’s character by the cut of his suit.

5. To arbitrate; to pass opinion on something, especially to settle a dispute etc.

   We cannot both be right: you must judge between us.

6. (transitive) To have as an opinion; to consider, suppose.

   I judge it safe to leave the house once again.

7. (transitive, intransitive) To form an opinion; to infer.

   I judge from the sky that it might rain later.

8. (transitive, intransitive) To criticize or label another person or thing; to be judgmental toward.
9. (transitive, intransitive) To govern as biblical judge or shophet (over some jurisdiction).

Derived terms

• forejudge
• misjudge

Credits

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