ad·ju·di·cate /ə-'jü-di-ˌkāt/ vb -cat·ed, -cat·ing [Latin adjudicare to award in judgment, from ad to, for + judicare to judge see judge]
vt
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
was adjudicated a bankrupt
was adjudicated the child's father
4: to convey by judicial sale
vi: to come to a judicial decision: act as judge
the court adjudicated upon the case
ad·ju·di·ca·tion /ə-ˌjü-di-'kā-shən/ n
ad·ju·di·ca·tive /ə-'jü-di-ˌkā-tiv, -kə-/ n
ad·ju·di·ca·tor /-ˌkā-tər/ n
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.