adjudicate

ad·ju·di·cate   (ə-jōō'dĭ-kāt')    v.   ad·ju·di·cat·ed, ad·ju·di·cat·ing, ad·ju·di·cates v.   tr. To hear and settle (a case) by judicial procedure. To study and settle (a dispute or conflict): The principal adjudicated our quarrel. v.   intr. To act as a judge. [Latin adiūdicāre, adiūdicāt-, to award to (judicially) : ad-, ad- + iūdicāre, to judge (from iūdex, judge; see judge).] ad·ju'di·ca'tion n., ad·ju'di·ca'tive adj., ad·ju'di·ca'tor n.

Main Entry: ad·ju·di·cate
Pronunciation: &-'jü-di-"kAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -cat·ed; -cat·ing
Etymology: Latin adjudicare to award in judgment, from ad to, for + judicare to judge —see JUDGE
transitive verb 1 : to settle either finally or temporarily (the rights and duties of the parties to a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding) on the merits of the issues raised
2 : to pass judgment on as a judge : settle judicially
3 : to pronounce judicially to be adjudicated a bankrupt> adjudicated the child's father>
4 : to convey by judicial sale intransitive verb : to come to a judicial decision : act as judge adjudicated upon the case> —ad·ju·di·ca·tion /&-"jü-di-'kA-sh&n/ noun —ad·ju·di·ca·tive /&-'jü-di-"kA-tiv, -k&-/ noun —ad·ju·di·ca·tor /-"kA-t&r/ noun