oyer noun.
['ɔɪǝ] LME.[Anglo-Norman = Old French oïr: see OYEZ, -ER4.]Law.
1. The hearing of a case. Only in
oyer and determiner,
oyer determiner,
oyer and terminer below.
LME.2. A criminal trial held under the commission of oyer and terminer (see below).
LME.3. Hist. The hearing of a document read in court, esp. an instrument in writing pleaded by one party in a suit.
E17.Phrases:
oyer and determiner,
oyer determiner (
obsolete exc.
Hist.) =
oyer and terminer (a), (b) below.
oyer and terminer (a) (in full
commission of oyer and terminer,
writ of oyer and terminer) a commission authorizing a judge on circuit to hold courts (formerly only for the hearing of certain specified offences);
(b) = sense 2 above;
(c) a court of higher criminal jurisdiction in some States of the US.
[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲