VERDICT
verdict, finding of fact
(noun) (law) the findings of a jury on issues of fact submitted to it for decision; can be used in formulating a judgment
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
verdict (plural verdicts)
(legal) A decision on an issue of fact in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.
An opinion or judgement.
Source: Wiktionary
Ver"dict, n. Etym: [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)
Definition: 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 Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition