ˈvər](ˌ)dikt, ˈvə̄], ]ˈvəi], ]_dēkt\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Medieval Latin verdictum, veredictum verdict, from Latin vere dictum truly said, from vere truly — from verus true — + dictum something said, saying) of Middle English verdit, from Anglo-French, from Old French ver, veir true (from Latin verus ) + dit saying, from past participle of dire to say, from Latin dicere — more at dictum , very , diction
1. : the answer of a jury given to a court concerning a matter of fact in a civil or criminal cause committed to their examination and determination : the finding or decision of a jury on the matter legally submitted to them in the course of the trial of a cause that ordinarily in civil actions is for the plaintiff or for the defendant and in criminal actions guilty or not guilty — see directed verdict , scotch verdict , sealed verdict , special verdict
2. : an opinion pronounced or felt : decision , judgment
rejected the general verdict on her looks — Edith Wharton
that a given novel satisfies the criterion entails a favorable critical verdict — C.W.Shumaker