Verdict \Ver"dict\, n. [OE. verdit, OF. verdit, veirdit, LL. verdictum, veredictum; L. vere truly (fr. verus true) + dictum a saying, a word, fr. dicere, dictum, to say. See Very, and Dictum.]

1. (Law) The answer of a jury given to the court concerning any matter of fact in any cause, civil or criminal, committed to their examination and determination; the finding or decision of a jury on the matter legally submitted to them in the course of the trial of a cause.

Note: The decision of a judge or referee, upon an issue of fact, is not called a verdict, but a finding, or a finding of fact. --Abbott.

2. Decision; judgment; opinion pronounced; as, to be condemned by the verdict of the public.

These were enormities condemned by the most natural verdict of common humanity. --South.

Two generations have since confirmed the verdict which was pronounced on that night. --Macaulay.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)