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Glite Dictionary
📢 A call for attention 📢 To call for silence
oyez

oyez

5 9.9
A loud call by a town crier or court officer to get attention
  • noun
  • /oʊˈjeɪ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : oyez
  • Oyez, oyez, all rise.
  • Mr. Oyez
  • Oyez, court
  • chant: "Oyez! Oyez

Examples

  • Oyez, oyez, oyez, civil district court for the Parish of Orleans is now in session.

    Runaway Jury (2003)

  • Oyez, oyez! The town crier announced the start of the festival.

  • MARSHAL: Oyez!

    Vice (2018)

  • When the Justices take the bench, the Marshal—Pamela Talkin—will pound the gavel and, with an "Oyez, oyez," announce that the Court is in session.

    Blog text (3)

  • Oyez, oyez, oyez! All citizens are requested to gather in the square for important news.

  • Oyez, oyez! Court is now in session, and quiet is required.

Synonyms

call
vsoyez
301 1.0

A sound an animal makes to get attention

is used by officials in a formal ritual to get attention before announcing something
hallo
vsoyez
  • UK
1 7.8

A loud call to get someone's attention from a distance

is ceremonial and used by officials before making a formal announcement

How Forceful

oyez
  • Archaic
5 9.9
yee
  • Informal
36 9.9

Surface Forms

oyez singular
oyez plural

Etymology

Oyez as a noun comes from old French oyer, meaning 'to hear', and it was the loud call town criers or court officers used, like shouting 'hear ye!'. So an oyez is the formal announcement that asks people to stop and listen.