Guilt
[gilt] /gɪlt/
noun
1.
the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability:
He admitted his guilt.
2.
a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
3.
conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.:
to live a life of guilt.
verb (used with object), Informal.
4.
to cause to feel (often followed by out or into):
She totally guilted me out, dude. He guilted me into picking up the tab.
See also .
/ɡɪlt/
noun
1.
the fact or state of having done wrong or committed an offence
2.
responsibility for a criminal or moral offence deserving punishment or a penalty
3.
remorse or self-reproach caused by feeling that one is responsible for a wrong or offence
4.
(archaic) sin or crime
verb
to make someone feel guilty, esp. in hopes of getting them to do something
Examples
He guilted her into calling her mother-in-law.
n.
Old English gylt “crime, sin, fault, fine,” of unknown origin, though some suspect a connection to Old English gieldan “to pay for, debt,” but OED editors find this “inadmissible phonologically.” The mistaken use for “sense of guilt” is first recorded 1680s. Guilt by association recorded by 1919.
v.
“to influence someone by appealing to his sense of guiltiness,” by 1995, from guilt (n.). Related: Guilted; guilting. Old English also had a verbal form, gyltan “to commit an offense.”
Read Also:
- Guilt by association
The attribution of guilt to individuals because of the people or organizations with which they associate, rather than because of any crime that they have committed.
- Guilted
[gilt] /gɪlt/ noun 1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt. 2. a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined. 3. conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: […]
- Guiltier
[gil-tee] /ˈgɪl ti/ adjective, guiltier, guiltiest. 1. having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; justly subject to a certain accusation or penalty; culpable: The jury found her guilty of murder. 2. characterized by, connected with, or involving : guilty intent. 3. having or showing a sense of , […]
- Guiltily
[gil-tee] /ˈgɪl ti/ adjective, guiltier, guiltiest. 1. having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; justly subject to a certain accusation or penalty; culpable: The jury found her guilty of murder. 2. characterized by, connected with, or involving : guilty intent. 3. having or showing a sense of , […]
- Guiltiness
[gil-tee] /ˈgɪl ti/ adjective, guiltier, guiltiest. 1. having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; justly subject to a certain accusation or penalty; culpable: The jury found her guilty of murder. 2. characterized by, connected with, or involving : guilty intent. 3. having or showing a sense of , […]