1 : a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy
2 : a judicial proceeding brought by one party against another; one party prosecutes another for a wrong done or for protection of a right or for prevention of a wrong
3 : a mode of conducting legal and parliamentary proceedings
4 : a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy
5 : (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law
