adjective

hung

undecided, suspended, decorated with hanging objects

The jury was hung, so a retrial was ordered.

The jury was hung, so a retrial was ordered.

The walls were hung with tapestries.

The walls were hung with tapestries.

to be hung to be undecided (of a jury) The jury was hung.

to be hung with ((sth.)) to be decorated with (sth.) The room was hung with decorations.

Synonyms: suspended, deadlocked, undecided

Derived from the past participle of 'to hang'. The 'hung jury' meaning evokes an image of being stuck or suspended mid-decision.

Think of a picture 'hung' on a wall. Then, for a jury, imagine their decision is 'hung up' and can't proceed.

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