nisi prius

noun

In the 19th century, those legal actions tried before judges of the King's Bench Division, and in the early 20th century those actions tried at assize by a judge given a commission.

OriginLatin nisi prius →
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Meanings

nounnisi prius (uncountable)
  1. historicaluncountablelawIn the 19th century, those legal actions tried before judges of the King's Bench Division, and in the early 20th century those actions tried at assize by a judge given a commission.

Origin

  1. Latinnisi prius“unless previously”
  2. Englishnisi prius

From Latin nisi prius (“unless previously”), from the first two words of the old Latin writ summoning the juries to appear at Westminster unless, before the day appointed, the judges had come to the county.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

nisi prius. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nisi%20prius

MLA

“nisi prius.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nisi%20prius. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nisi prius,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nisi%20prius.

Source: nisi prius on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.