to criminate
1
9.9
- verb
- /ˈkrɪmɪneɪt/
- Archaic
- The evidence presented in court clearly criminates the defendant in the robbery case.
Examples
-
Everything that criminates their side cannot come from our lawyer.
-
And this criminates...?
-
That criminates the shit out of Teena, yes!
-
Witness testimony can often criminate someone if they were present at the crime scene.
-
The documents he found may criminate his colleague in the financial fraud investigation.
Synonyms
∞
2.7
Say that someone did something wrong or illegal
996
4.2
Officially accuse someone of a crime
252
8.0
To officially accuse someone of a serious crime in court
39
7.4
To make someone seem guilty of a crime by showing proof against them
1
9.3
To accuse someone in public of a fault or failure
1
9.9
To say someone is guilty of a crime
Antonyms
How Strongly
403
6.1
- Formal
252
8.0
- Formal
996
4.2
- Archaic
1
9.9
- Literature
218
5.3
∞
1.6
119
2.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
criminate = crime (semi-transparent) = crimin + ate
The connection to 'crime' is clear, but the transformation to a verb meaning 'to accuse' is not a standard derivation for all learners.
Etymology
Criminate comes from the Latin root crimen, which means 'charge' or 'accusation' and is the same root in crime and criminal. So, to criminate someone is to accuse or charge them, especially in a legal or formal way.