incriminate
[ in-krim-uh-neyt ]
/ ɪnˈkrɪm əˌneɪt /
verb (used with object), in·crim·i·nat·ed, in·crim·i·nat·ing.
to accuse of or present proof of a crime or fault: He incriminated both men to the grand jury.
to involve in an accusation; cause to be or appear to be guilty; implicate: His testimony incriminated his friend. He feared incriminating himself if he answered.
to charge with responsibility for all or part of an undesirable situation, harmful effect, etc.: to incriminate cigarettes as a cause of lung cancer.
Nearby words
incrementally, increpation, increscent, incretion, incretory, incriminate, incrimination, incriminatory, incross, incrossbred, incroyable
Origin of incriminate
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for incriminate
British Dictionary definitions for incriminate
incriminate
/ (ɪnˈkrɪmɪˌneɪt) /
verb (tr)
to imply or suggest the guilt or error of (someone)
to charge with a crime or fault
Derived Formsincrimination, nounincriminator, nounincriminatory, adjective
Word Origin for incriminate
C18: from Late Latin incrīmināre to accuse, from Latin crīmen accusation; see crime
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for incriminate
incriminate
1730, back-formation from incrimination or else from Medieval Latin incriminatus, past participle of incriminare "to incriminate," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + criminare "to accuse of a crime," from crimen (genitive criminis) "crime" (see crime). Related: Incriminated; incriminating.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper