deraign
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editFrom Middle English dereinen, from Old French deraisnier (“to explain, defend, to maintain in legal action by proof and reasonings”), from Late Latin derationare (“to discourse, contend in law”).
Verb
editderaign (third-person singular simple present deraigns, present participle deraigning, simple past and past participle deraigned)
- (law, obsolete, transitive) To prove or to refute by proof, especially on threat of combat.
- (obsolete) To engage in (battle, combat etc.).
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
- Therewith they gan to hurtlen greedily, / Redoubted battaile ready to darrayne, / And clash their shields, and shake their swords on hy [...].
Usage notes
editNot to be confused with darrein.