trial at nisi prius

1

: a trial conducted as a result of the issuance of a writ of nisi prius

2

: the original trial of the facts in issue before a judge or jury as distinguished from the hearing of the case before an appellate court or on review

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!