A Juror Is Named From the Oath They Swear
A juror is a member of a jury. The word comes from the Latin for swearing, because jurors take an oath before serving.
A juror is a member of a jury sworn to reach a verdict on evidence. The name records the oath rather than the task: Latin *jurare* means to swear, and a jury is a body of people who have sworn. The same root gives *perjury*, swearing falsely, *abjure*, to swear off, and *jurisdiction*, the speaking of the law. In England the jury began as local men who knew the facts, not as neutral strangers hearing evidence.
- A jury member. *Twelve jurors.*
- Jury — the body. *The jury retired.*
- Perjury — false swearing. *Charged with perjury.*
- Verdict — from *vere dictum*, truly said. *A guilty verdict.*
- Latin — *jurare*, to swear. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | juror | A juror. |
| Plural | jurors | Twelve jurors. |
| Collective | jury | The jury. |
| Related | perjury | Perjury. |
| Latin | jurare | To swear. |
- Each juror is sworn in.Procedure.
- The jury reached a verdict.Outcome.
- Verdict means truly said.Etymology.
The jurare family
- Juror and jury — those who have sworn
- Perjury — swearing falsely under oath
- Abjure — to renounce on oath
- Conjure — originally to swear together
- Jurisdiction — from *jus* plus *dicere*, the speaking of law
Anglo-French *jurour*, from Latin *jurator*, one who swears, from *jurare*, to swear, from *jus*, law or right.
Why is a jury called that?
From the Latin for swearing. Jurors are people who have taken an oath to give a true verdict.
What does verdict mean literally?
Truly said, from Latin vere dictum. It is the jury's statement of the truth as they find it.