Judiciary
/dʒuːˈdɪʃ.i.əri/noun
The branch of government responsible for interpreting and applying the law.
Did you know?Judiciary ultimately descends from Latin *iūdex* (“judge”), built from *iūs* (“law, right”) + *dicere* (“to say”): in origin, law was something you *said into existence*.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deik-
“to show, point out, indicate”
Latin
Latin
iūs
“law, right, justice”
Latin
Latin
dīcere
“to say, declare, pronounce”
Latin
Latin
iūdex
“a judge; one who declares the law/right”
Old French
OF
judiciaire
“relating to judgment or courts”
Middle English
English
judicial
“relating to courts or the administration of justice”
Modern English
English
judiciary
“the judicial branch or system of courts”