oyer and terminer

noun

A commission under which a court is empowered to hear and determine a criminal case.

OriginMiddle English oier and terminer ← Anglo-Norman oyer →
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Meanings

nounoyer and terminer (countable and uncountable, plural oyer and terminers or oyers and terminers)

plural oyer and terminers · plural oyers and terminers

  1. archaiccountableuncountablelawA commission under which a court is empowered to hear and determine a criminal case.
  2. archaiccountableuncountablelawThe hearing or trial carried out under such authority.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
jurisdictionsoc and sac

Origin

  1. Anglo-Normanoyer“hear”
  2. Middle Englishoier and terminer
  3. Englishoyer and terminer

From Middle English oier and terminer, oyer and termyner, from Anglo-Norman oyer (“hear”) and terminer (“determine”).

More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

oyer and terminer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oyer%20and%20terminer

MLA

“oyer and terminer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oyer%20and%20terminer. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oyer and terminer,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oyer%20and%20terminer.

Source: oyer and terminer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.