[ad. L. adjūdicātiōn-em, n. of action, f. adjūdicāre: see ADJUDICATE. The Fr. adjudication, 16th c. in Littré, may be the immediate source.]
1. The act of adjudicating or adjudging; an awarding or settling by judicial decree.
1691. Blount, Law Dict., Adjudication, A giving by Judgment, a Sentence, or Decree.
1772. Pennant, Tours in Scotl. (1774), 353. The courts of law had made an adjudication in his favour.
1814. Wellington, in Gurwood’s Desp., XII. 87. The adjudication should take place in the Courts of Admiralty.
1857. M. Hopkins, Handbk. Average, 373. Arbitrators should not … introduce in their award questions which have not been left to their adjudication.
1871. Smiles, Character, v. (1876), 153. The adjudication of the medal.
2. A judicial sentence, or award.
1782. Burke, Sp. on Ref., Wks. X. 96. Any adjudication in favour of natural rights.
1825. T. Jefferson, Wks., 1859, I. 16. They would not … acknowledge the adjudications of our courts.
1880. Muirhead, Gaius, iv. § 39, 42. The clauses of a formula are these,—the demonstration, the intention, the adjudication, and the condemnation…. The adjudication is the clause whereby the judge is authorized to adjudicate a thing to one in particular of the litigants, as when co-heirs are suing for partition of an inheritance.
3. Law. A decree in bankruptcy.
1869. Latest News, 17 Oct. The adjudication was made on the petition of Mr. … a creditor for 140l.
1870. Daily News, 10 Oct. The act of bankruptcy was a declaration of insolvency made by his lordship on the 29th of September, and the adjudication was now made by consent.
4. Scotch Law. An attachment of heritable estate as security, or in satisfaction of a debt. (See ADJUDGED 4.)
