/euh suyz"/ , n.
1. Usually, assizes . a trial session, civil or criminal, held periodically in specific locations in England, usually by a judge of a superior court.
2. an edict, ordinance, or enactment made at a session of a legislative assembly.
3. an inquest before members of a jury or assessors; a judicial inquiry.
4. an action, writ, or verdict of an assize.
5. judgment: the last assize; the great assize.
6. a statute for the regulation and control of weights and measures or prices of general commodities in the market.
[ 1250-1300; ME asise asis seated at (ptp. of aseeir ), equiv. to a- A- 5 + -sis sessum ( sed- s. of sedere to SIT + -tus ptp. suffix) ]