Ar'e-ōp-ag-īt'ic or Ar'e-ōp'a-gŭs, a.

a. [Lat. Areopagiticus, Gr. ’Αρειοπαγιτικός.] Pertaining to the Areopagus. Mitford. Ar'e-ōp'a-gŭs, n. [Lat. Areopagus, Gr. ’Αρειόπαγος, and ’Αρεως πάγος, hill of Ares, from ’Αρεως, devoted to Ares, ’Αρης, the god of war, and πάγος, rocky hill.] A sovereign tribunal at Athens, famous for the justice and impartiality of its decisions; so called from having been originally held on a hill named in honor of Ares, or Mars. This court took cognizance of high crimes, impiety, and immorality, and watched over the laws and the public treasury.