A person appointed or recognized to adjudicate disputes, render verdicts, or interpret legal matters; specifically, a judge or official with authority to administer justice, particularly in a formal legal or administrative capacity. In biblical Aramaic, generally denotes a judicial official rather than a partisan advocate.

Etymology Derived from the root דין (DYN), meaning 'to judge, to govern, to rule.' The form דַּיָּן (dayân) is an agent noun formation from this root, indicating 'one who judges.'

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Kikongo ndunga judge; arbiter; law-officer ndung
Kimbundu ndunga fetish priest; initiator (in cultural or legal context) -ndunga
Lingala ndunga magistrate; judge; law-enforcer (customary justice) -ndunga
Umbundu ndunga ritual official, religious judge -ndunga