Obs. Also 3 aresun, 4–5 areson(ne, 5 araison, 6 arraison. [a. OFr. ares-, areis-, araisone-r, mod.F. arraisonner, levelled form of earlier araisnier (1 sing. pres. araisone):—late L. adratiōnāre, f. ad to + ratiōnāre to discourse, f. ratiōn-em: see REASON.] By-form of ARRAIGN v.; to address words and esp. questions to; to question, examine, call to account.

1

c. 1250.  Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 35. Þo aresunede ure lord þe paens … vre-fore hi hedden i-be so longe idel.

2

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2460. And be aresoned, als right es Of alle his mysdedys.

3

1470.  Harding, Chron., clxxxviij. Walworth … Areasoned hym then of his greate lewdenesse.

4

1475.  Caxton, Jason, 41 b. And spack not one worde but if he were demanded or araisoned.

5

1594.  Carew, Tasso (1881), 100. He … Arraisons him with this besmoothing art.

6