Merriam-Webster Word of the Day - Recuse

WORD OF THE DAY February 11, 2018

recuse    verb | rih-KYOOZ     Definition   : to disqualify (oneself) as judge in a particular case; broadly : to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest   Scroll down for more about recuse       WORD GAMES AND QUIZZES: WEEKLY CHALLENGE   Advanced Vocabulary Quiz   Tough words and tougher competition.     PLAY NOW     Nailed this quiz? We have plenty more to try!  TAKE ME THERE     Plus:   SEE WHAT LOOKUPS ARE TRENDING NOW!         Did You Know?   Recuse is derived from the Middle French word recuser, which comes from the Latin recusare, meaning "to refuse." English speakers began using recuse with the meaning "to refuse or reject" in the 14th century. By the 15th century, the term had acquired the meaning "to challenge or object to (a judge)." The current legal use of recuse as a term specifically meaning "to disqualify (oneself) as a judge" didn't come into frequent use until the 19th century. Broader applications soon followed from this sense—you can now recuse yourself from such things as debates and decisions as well as court cases.     Examples of RECUSE   Because she was a frequent customer at the plaintiff's shop, the judge recused herself from the case.   "If HB 1225 becomes law in its current form, any county official who has an agreement with a wind developer must recuse himself or herself from any matter that involves the ownership, operation, construction or location of a wind power device in the county." — Travis Weik, The Courier-Times (New Castle, Indiana), 14 Jan. 2018   Test Your Vocabulary   Unscramble the letters to create a verb meaning "to act as judge": ACJUTIEDAD.   VIEW THE ANSWER           USAGE NOTES     'Free Rein' or 'Free Reign'?   The phrase does not make you king or queen for the day.   FIND OUT

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