də̇ˌlibəˈrāshən, dēˌ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English deliberacioun, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French deliberation, from Latin deliberation-, deliberatio, from deliberatus + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the act of weighing and examining the reasons for and against a choice or measure : careful consideration : mature reflection
after careful deliberation he decided to study medicine rather than law
2. : a discussion and consideration by a number of persons of the reasons for and against a measure — often used in plural
the House concluded its deliberations and its members hurried home to mend political fences
3. : the quality or state of being deliberate : deliberateness
4. obsolete : resolution , decision , determination