forjudge: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / ArchaicLegal Archaism / Historical
Quick answer
What does “forjudge” mean?
To judge or decide beforehand, especially in a way that is unfair or prejudicial.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To judge or decide beforehand, especially in a way that is unfair or prejudicial; to deprive by a previous judgment.
Historically, a legal term meaning to dispossess or deprive someone of property or rights by a prior judgment or judicial decision. It can also imply pre-judgment or bias.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No modern regional difference exists due to extreme rarity. Historical usage was likely uniform in Anglo-American common law.
Connotations
Strongly archaic; evokes medieval or early modern legal proceedings.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in contemporary corpora for both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “forjudge” in a Sentence
[Someone] forjudges [someone] of [something (e.g., land, rights)][Someone] is forjudged (by [an authority])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forjudge” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ancient writ would forjudge the tenant from his holding.
- One must not forjudge the case before hearing the evidence.
American English
- The colonial court could forjudge a settler of his property.
- It is unjust to forjudge the defendant based on rumor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical legal scholarship.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Obsolete legal term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forjudge”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forjudge”
- Using it in modern writing.
- Confusing it with 'forejudge' (an accepted variant, but equally archaic).
- Assuming it means simply 'to judge'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term almost exclusively found in historical legal texts.
'Prejudge' is the modern term for forming a judgment beforehand and is still in use. 'Forjudge' is its archaic synonym but also carried a specific legal meaning of dispossessing someone via a prior judgment.
Only if you are writing about historical law or quoting an old source. In all other contexts, it will seem like an error or affectation.
Both are found in historical texts. 'Forejudge' is etymologically clearer (fore + judge), but 'forjudge' was a common variant. Neither is standard today.
To judge or decide beforehand, especially in a way that is unfair or prejudicial.
Forjudge is usually legal archaism / historical in register.
Forjudge: in British English it is pronounced /fɔːˈdʒʌdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɔrˈdʒʌdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: FORe-JUDGE. A judgment made FOR (before) the proper time.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A TIMELINE (a premature point on the timeline is unfair).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the verb 'forjudge' be most accurately used?