forelady
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A woman who serves as the leader or spokesperson of a jury; a female foreperson.
Usage
The term "forelady" is used specifically to denote a woman in the formal role of the jury's presiding member. It is the feminine counterpart to "foreman." The forelady is responsible for communicating the jury's verdict and often for facilitating discussions among jurors.
Examples
- The forelady stood and announced the jury's unanimous decision of "not guilty."
- After two days of deliberation, the forelady passed a note to the judge stating the jury was deadlocked.
- She was elected forelady by the other eleven jurors.
Advanced Usage
- The term is used in legal and courtroom contexts. While "foreperson" is now a common gender-neutral alternative, "forelady" is still used when specifying the gender of the individual in that role.
Variants and Related Words
- Foreperson (n): A gender-neutral term for the leader of a jury.
- Foreman (n): The traditional term for a male leader of a jury or a work crew.
- Juror (n): A member of a jury.
- Presiding Juror (n): Another formal term for the jury's leader.
Synonyms
- Jury forewoman
- Presiding juror (when female)
- Chief juror (when female)
Notes on Meaning
This word has a single, specific meaning related to the legal system. It does not have different meanings, idioms, or phrasal verbs associated with it.
Noun
- a woman who is foreperson of a jury