GUILTY

Definition of GUILTY

GUILTY Adjective

Guilty is an adjective that describes the state of being responsible for an offense or wrongdoing, either in a legal sense or in a personal or moral context.

Responsible for Wrongdoing: As an adjective, guilty refers to being responsible for committing a crime or other offenses. For example, “The defendant was found guilty of theft,” indicates that the person has been judged to have committed the crime. This usage is crucial in legal contexts where determining guilt is a key aspect of justice and accountability.

Feeling of Culpability: Guilty can also describe an emotional state of feeling responsible for a wrongdoing, whether or not it involves legal consequences. For instance, “She felt guilty for not calling her mother,” conveys a personal sense of remorse or responsibility for a mistake or omission. This use emphasizes the internal experience of guilt, reflecting how individuals might feel accountable for their actions or inactions.

Importance in Legal and Emotional Contexts: Understanding guilty is vital for recognizing its role in legal proceedings, where it signifies responsibility for criminal acts, and in personal contexts, where it describes feelings of regret or moral responsibility.

Guilty is an adjective that denotes being responsible for an offense or a sense of personal culpability. It is essential in both legal and personal contexts for indicating accountability and emotional response to wrongdoing.

UNLAWFUL

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SNITCH

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PRIVILEGED

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IMPARTIAL

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Examples of GUILTY in a sentence

• The jury found the defendant guilty of the charges after reviewing the evidence.
• She felt guilty about missing her friend’s birthday party and planned to make it up to her.
• His guilty expression revealed that he knew he had done something wrong.
• The guilty verdict was delivered in court, and the defendant was sentenced accordingly.
• The child’s guilty look was a clear sign that he had taken the cookie without asking.
• She had a guilty conscience after realizing she had forgotten to return the borrowed book.
• The guilty party was required to pay restitution to the victims as part of their sentence.
• The defendant’s guilty plea meant they would not go to trial and would receive a lighter sentence.

Origin of GUILTY

The word guilty has its origins in Latin and Old French, evolving through various stages to describe the state of having committed a wrongdoing or crime.

• Latin:
  • Guiltas (guilt)
  • The Latin term guiltas refers to guilt or culpability. It represents the state of being responsible for a wrongdoing or crime.
• Old French:
  • Guilte (guilt, culpability)
  • In Old French, guilte was used to denote guilt or culpability. It derived from the Latin guiltas and reflected the concept of being responsible for an offense or wrongdoing.
• Middle English:
  • Guilty (culpable, at fault)
  • By Middle English, guilty referred to the state of being culpable or at fault for a wrongdoing. The term continued to describe someone who had committed an offense or crime.
• Modern English:
  • Guilty (having committed a crime or offense; responsible for a wrongdoing)
  • In Modern English, guilty describes the state of having committed a crime or offense, or being responsible for a wrongdoing. It can also refer to a feeling of remorse or responsibility for an act.

The term guilty has evolved from its Latin and Old French roots, retaining its core meaning related to culpability and responsibility into Modern English.

AFRICA

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GOSSIP

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DECADE

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HIDDEN

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