jury

Definitions

From Latin jūrāre (to swear an oath), via Old French jurée 'a sworn body.' A jury is not named for *judging* but for *swearing*: its members are sworn in to deliver a true verdict. Same oath-root as perjury (a false oath) and conjure (to bind by oath).

Why It Means This

Many learners assume jury comes from 'judge,' but it actually comes from the oath. That's the key to the whole jūrāre branch: the jury swears, the perjurer swears falsely, and the conjurer once 'swore people together.' Spot the oath, and these scattered words snap into one family.

Common Collocations

• 1.jury duty陪审团职责
• 2.trial by jury陪审团审判
• 3.the jury found陪审团裁定
• 4.hung jury未能达成一致的陪审团
• 5.serve on a jury担任陪审员

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The jury found the defendant not guilty.

• 2.

  She was called up for jury duty next month.

• 3.

  An international jury awarded the film its top prize.

Easily Confused

jury vs. judge — a judge is one trained legal official who controls the trial and sentences; a jury is a group of ordinary citizens who decide the facts (guilty or not). Judge = law and sentence; jury = verdict on the facts.