v. [f. L. adjūdicāt- ppl. stem of adjūdicā-re, 1. to award, 2. to give sentence; f. ad to + jūdicā-re to JUDGE.]
† 1. trans. To adjudge; to award; ‘to give something controverted to one of the litigants, by a sentence or decision.’ J. Obs.
1700. [See ADJUDICATING 1.]
1731. In Bailey, vol. II., whence in Johnson.
2. trans. To try and determine judicially; to pronounce by sentence of court.
1775. Ash, Adjudicate, v. tr. To determine any claim in Law.
1859. J. Lang, Wander. India, 53. He had been called upon to adjudicate the affair in a court of justice.
1864. C. Clerk, in Morn. Star, 2 Feb. Instead of nations adjudicating their prizes in their own courts, they should be allowed to carry them for adjudication into the courts of neutrals.
1870. Echo, 10 Nov. [He] was adjudicated a bankrupt yesterday by Mr. Spring Rice.
3. intr. To sit in judgment and pronounce sentence; to act as a judge, or court of judgment.
1840. Jeffrey, in Ld. Cockburn’s Life, II. Let. 165. Each of the Courts … must have an equal right … to adjudicate upon it.
1848. Bright, Sp. (1876), 161. I would establish … a special court in Ireland to adjudicate on all questions connected with the titles and transfers of landed property.
1857. M. Hopkins, Handbk. Average, 393. It is said that he ought not to adjudicate as to his own fees.
