criminate

[ krim-uh-neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, crim·i·nat·ed, crim·i·nat·ing.

1. to charge with a crime.
2. to incriminate.
3. to censure (something) as criminal; condemn.

criminate

/ ˈkrɪmɪˌneɪt; -trɪ; ˈkrɪmɪnətərɪ /

verb

1. to charge with a crime; accuse
2. to condemn or censure (an action, event, etc)
3. short for incriminate

Derived Forms

• ˈcriminative, adjective
• ˌcrimiˈnation, noun
• ˈcrimiˌnator, noun

Other Words From

• crimi·nation noun
• crimi·nator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of criminate¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin crīminātus, past participle of crīminārī “to accuse”; crime, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of criminate¹

C17: from Latin crīminārī to accuse

Example Sentences

It also could be prohibited to “defame the president by declarations directly or indirectly to ‘criminate’ his motives in conducting official business.”

From Salon

At length the officers once more appeared, and with them the captain of the musketeers, de Jouvelle, who, while the ushers pronounced the name of "Albert Count of Morseiul," passed by the prisoner, as if to speak to one of the soldiers, saying, in a low voice, as he did so, "Be of good cheer, Count; they have said nothing to criminate you."

From Project Gutenberg

The inquiry was taking a turn unpleasing to the peer; for although he felt well convinced that Pharold would, sooner or later, retort the accusation upon him, and was ready to meet it boldly and calmly, yet he was not a little anxious to conclude his own statement of the case first, and to bring forward every circumstance which could criminate the gipsy, in order to take all weight from the testimony of his adversary, and make the magistrates pass it over with contempt.

From Project Gutenberg

In the face of all these facts he must indeed be a very wise or a very foolish man who will either venture to believe that the Manchoo-Tartar dynasty can endure, or will wilfully criminate himself by upholding their cause.

From Project Gutenberg

On the cross-examination of the Attorney General, though cautioned by the court not to criminate himself, he scorned all concealment, avowing that the objects of the Constitutional Society were to obtain equal representation, universal suffrage, and annual Parliaments, and replying to the caution of the judges, that "he came there not to state what was prudent, but what was true."

From Project Gutenberg