I. ˈju̇rē, ˈjür-, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English jure, jurie, from Anglo-French juree, from Old French jurer to swear, from Latin jurare, jurari, from jur-, jus law, right — more at just
1. : a body of men sworn to give a verdict upon some matter submitted to them ; especially : a body of men selected according to law, impaneled, and sworn to inquire into and try any matter of fact and to give their verdict according to the evidence legally produced — compare grand jury , petit jury , trial jury
2. : the body of dicasts of ancient Athens
3.
a. : a committee for determining relative merit or awarding prizes at an exhibition or competition
two juries for its third annual national exhibition — Americana Annual
b. : the director and four judges responsible for officiating at a fencing bout
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
: to select entries for (an art exhibit)
inviting one man to jury … its quadrennial exhibitions of contemporary American art — Aline B. Saarinen
: judge the relative merits of (entries in an art exhibit)
jurying the submissions at the invitation of the foundations — G.A.Wagner
III. adjective
Etymology: origin unknown
: improvised for temporary use especially in an emergency : makeshift
a jury mast
a jury rig
jury repairs completed, they started again — Will Irwin
IV. noun
: one (as the public or test results) that will decide — used especially in the phrase the jury is ( still ) out
on the question of how well it works, the jury is still out — Martin Mayer