: an action to be decided by such an inquest, the writ for instituting it, or the verdict or finding rendered by the jury
2
a
: the former periodical sessions of the superior courts in English counties for trial of civil and criminal cases—usually used in plural
b
: the time or place of holding such a court, the court itself, or a session of it—usually used in plural
Word History
Etymology
Middle English assise, from Anglo-French, session, legal action, from asseer, asseoir to seat, from Vulgar Latin *assedēre, from Latin assidēre to sit beside, assist in the office of a judge, from ad- + sedēre to sit — more at sit