ju|ris|dic|tion

ju|ris|dic|tion «_JUR ihs DIHK shuhn», noun.

1. the right or power to give out justice; the giving out of justice: »

To live exempt From heaven's high jurisdiction (Milton).

2. authority; power; control: »

The principal has jurisdiction over the teachers in a school.

3. the things over which authority extends; extent of authority: »

A school is the principal's jurisdiction. The judge ruled that the case was not within his jurisdiction.

4. the territory over which authority extends.

5. either council of the Scottish Rite Masons in the United States; the southern or the northern jurisdiction.

╂[< Latin jūrisdictiō, -ōnis < jūs, jūris law + dictiō, -ōnis a speaking < dīcere say]