indict English · revision 877

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈdaɪt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a respelling, after [[la-med|indictāre|t=to indict]], of [[inh|enm|enditen|t=to accuse; to write]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[bor|xno|enditer|t=to accuse, indict]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Old French ''enditer'' “to dictate, write, compose”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la-vul|*indictāre|t=to declare, proclaim in writing]],^(Etymonline) from ''in-'' and [[la|dictāre|t=to declare, dictate]].^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) It is a doublet of [[indite]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To bring a charge against, to accuse (a person) of a crime, especially by legal process (1278 in the OED; about 1303 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latinized spelling ''indict'' was adopted about 1600–26, but the word kept its French-derived pronunciation, rhyming with ''invite''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) The non-legal senses of the Middle English verb, “to write, compose”, stayed with the older spelling [[indite]].^(Etymonline) The sense was perhaps partly confused with Latin ''indicāre'' “to point out”.^(Etymonline) In modern use ''indict'' means especially the formal charge made by a [[grand jury]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1278 – to accuse of a crime (OED).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1303 – ''endyten'' (Barnhart).^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1440 – ''indyten''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1594 – ''indictment''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1626 – the spelling ''indict''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(law)'' To charge formally with a crime, especially by the finding of a [[grand jury]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To accuse of wrongdoing; to charge or criticize.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[indictable]]

+ * [[indictment]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[indite]]

+ * [[dictate]]

+ * [[verdict]]

+ * [[interdict]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}