n. & v.
--n.
1. a public officer appointed to hear and try causes in a court of justice.
2 a person appointed to decide a dispute or contest.
3 a a person who decides a question. b a person regarded in terms of capacity to decide on the merits of a thing or question (am no judge of that; a good judge of art).
4 Jewish Hist. a leader having temporary authority in Israel in the period between Joshua and the Kings.
--v.
1. tr. a try (a cause) in a court of justice. b pronounce sentence on (a person).
2 tr. form an opinion about; estimate, appraise.
3 tr. act as a judge of (a dispute or contest).
4 tr. (often foll. by to + infin. or that + clause) conclude, consider, or suppose.
5 intr. a form a judgement. b act as judge.
Phrases and idioms:
Judge Advocate General an officer in supreme control of the courts martial in the armed forces. Judges' Rules Brit. rules regarding the admissibility of an accused's statements as evidence.
Derivatives:
judgelike adj. judgeship n.
Etymology: ME f. OF juge (n.), juger (v.) f. L judex judicis f. jus law + -dicus speaking