the first step in a criminal court case when the accused person is brought before a judge, the charges are read aloud, and the person is asked to plead guilty or not guilty
The judge set bail during the suspect’s arraignment on Monday morning.
Journalists packed the gallery to report on the celebrity’s highly anticipated arraignment.
✦ From the verb arraign + -ment; originally from Old French araisnier, ultimately from Latin ad- + rationem “to” + “reason, account.”
a forceful public criticism, accusation, or calling to account
Her fiery arraignment of corruption won applause from the audience.
The essay is an arraignment of modern consumer culture and its excesses.
✦ Same origin as the legal sense; extended metaphorically to any severe accusation or criticism.
