delate

American  

[dih-leyt] / dɪˈleɪt /

verb (used with object)

delated, delating

1. Chiefly Scot. to inform against; denounce or accuse.

2. Archaic. to relate; report.

   to delate an offense.

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delate British  

/ dɪˈleɪt /

verb

1. (formerly) to bring a charge against; denounce; impeach

2. rare to report (an offence, etc)

3. obsolete to make known or public

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Other Word Forms

• delater
  noun
• delation
  noun
• delator
  noun
• delatorian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of delate

1505–15; < Latin dēlātus (suppletive past participle of dēferre to bring down, report, accuse), equivalent to dē- de- + lā- carry (past participle stem of ferre ) + -tus past participle suffix

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

delate delated delating

I heard her call her pleasant 'Clahowya!' and she added, rowing on evenly: 'Hyas delate salmon.'

From The Rim of the Desert by Anderson, Ada Woodruff

Envious of the prodigious fortune that Cayero might make by accepting this offer, the Portuguese officers threatened to delate him to the Birman sovereign, if he consented, and the proposal was accordingly refused.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 07 by Kerr, Robert

Elders were ordered by the minister to search the town and “to delate the absentees.”

From Bygone Church Life in Scotland by Various

But of Troy during these twelve months there has been little or nothing to delate.

From The Delectable Duchy by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

"I will delate you for a warlock to the Privy Council!" said Sir John.

From The Haunters & The Haunted Ghost Stories And Tales Of The Supernatural by Rhys, Ernest

“Dr. Rajesh Talwar delated the matter with the Police Station.”

From New York Times ● Dec. 23, 2013

Finally when the visitation came round in 1509, they delated him for spending too much time on p 79writing, to the neglect of the business of the monastery.

From The Age of Erasmus Lectures Delivered in the Universities of Oxford and London by Allen, P. S. (Percy Stafford)

So the three Samesbury witches got off with a stern exhortation from the judge, who scarcely seemed to relish the release of even Protestant witches delated by papistical accusers.

From Witch Stories by Linton, E. Lynn (Elizabeth Lynn)

She delated four women of evil repute, two of whom were Margaret Olson and Helen Andrew, the latter being the witch cut with a sword when appearing like a cat to Montgomerie.

From The Mysteries of All Nations Rise and Progress of Superstition, Laws Against and Trials of Witches, Ancient and Modern Delusions Together With Strange Customs, Fables, and Tales by Grant, James, archaeologist

But not until he had delated several others of hitherto good repute, so that for the next few months the witch-finder’s hands were full.

From Witch Stories by Linton, E. Lynn (Elizabeth Lynn)

She was found a witch by her marks, and soon after confessed, delating five women and one man as her accomplices.

From Witch Stories by Linton, E. Lynn (Elizabeth Lynn)

Act for delating the Querees of Merss and Tiviotdale out of the Provincial Book.

From The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

They are distinguished the ane from the other be delating and contracting the mouth, and are a, e, i, o, u.

From Of the Orthographie and Congruitie of the Britan Tongue A Treates, noe shorter than necessarie, for the Schooles by Wheatley, Henry Benjamin

And then, if he should deny that it was lawful, they would have an opportunity or pretense of delating and delivering him to the Roman governor, as an enemy to Caesar.

From Act, Declaration, & Testimony for the Whole of our Covenanted Reformation, as Attained to, and Established in Britain and Ireland; Particularly Betwixt the Years 1638 and 1649, Inclusive by Presbytery, The Reformed