oyez

Meanings

Interjection

• Hear ye. Attend. (Called by public criers or in court usually three times to secure silence and/or attentiveness).

Noun

• A cry of "oyez".

Verb

• To proclaim with a cry of "oyez".

Origin

• From Middle English oyes, oyas, oye, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French oyez, oiez, imperative plural of oir, from Old French oïr ("to hear"), itself from Latin audiō ("to hear") (oyez in particular corresponding to the second-person plural imperative form, audite). Commonly folk-etymologized as (and pronounced homophonously to) O + yes in the early modern period.