presentment

/priˈzɛntmənt/

Other forms: presentments

In the law, a presentment is an official, written accusation of a crime. A presentment is made by a grand jury and formally presented to a court.

There are two legal definitions of the term presentment, although they both essentially mean "formal presentation." A grand jury's presentment is done before a trial begins, and it represents an official accusation. Another kind of presentment is a legal demand for repayment. In the 14th century, a presentment was simply an "act of presenting something."

Definitions of presentment

1. noun

   an accusation of crime made by a grand jury on its own initiative
   synonyms: notification

   type of:

   due process, due process of law

   (law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards
2. noun

   a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view
   synonyms: demonstration, presentation

   types:

   exhibition

   the act of exhibiting

   exposure

   presentation to view in an open or public manner

   performance

   the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment

   lecture demonstration

   presentation of an example of what the lecturer is discoursing about

   counterdemonstration

   a demonstration held in opposition to another demonstration

   dramatic performance, dramatic production

   the act of performing a drama

   encore

   an extra or repeated performance; usually given in response to audience demand

   extemporisation, extemporization, improvisation

   a performance given extempore without planning or preparation

   juggle, juggling

   throwing and catching several objects simultaneously

   conjuration, conjuring trick, deception, illusion, legerdemain, magic, magic trick, thaumaturgy, trick

   an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers

   musical performance

   the act of performing music

   one-night stand

   a performance in one place on one night only

   interpretation, rendering, rendition

   the act of interpreting something as expressed in an artistic performance

   last hurrah, swan song

   a final performance or effort (especially before retirement)

   debunking, repudiation

   the exposure of falseness or pretensions

   production

   (law) the act of exhibiting in a court of law

   rodeo

   an exhibition of cowboy skills

   program, programme

   a performance (or series of performances) at a public presentation

   reprise

   the act of performing a role again

   type of:

   show

   the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
3. noun

   a document that must be accepted and paid by another person
   type of:

   billing, charge

   request for payment of a debt