guiltyadj.
/ˈɡɪlti/, U.S. /ˈɡɪlti/ 1.
a. That has offended or been in fault; delinquent, criminal. Now in stronger sense: That has incurred guilt; deserving punishment and moral reprobation; culpable. Often absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > guilt > [adjective]
guiltyc1000
sakeda1300
sakfula1300
culpable1303
faulty1380
plightfula1400
plightya1400
defective1423
criminousa1460
criminal1489
nocent1559
delinquent1584
faultful1591
obnoxious1604
noxiousa1618
guiltful1655
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii 18 Swa hwylc swa swereþ on þære offrunge þe ofer þæt weofud ys se ys gyltig [Hatton Gosp. geltig, L. debet].
a1175 Cott. Hom. 239 Þan seied ham god þe gelty mannen ȝe seneȝeden [etc.].
a1240 Lofsong in Cott. Hom 205 Ich icnowe me gulti and creie þe leafdi merci.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 9 Þei ben..most gyltif of alle.
a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 856 Thourgth the conseil of hiis wif, He sloughth his greihond nowt geltif.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 688 Þe gyltyf may contryssyoun hente & be þurȝ mercy to grace þryȝt.
c1400 Rom. Rose 6394 Penaunce..for my sinne Which that I fond me gilty inne.
c1400 Gamelyn 822 We wil sle þe giltif and late þe tother goo.
1639 J. Ford Ladies Triall iv. sig. G3 Tis the guilty trembles At horrors, not the innocent.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 12 We put ten of the Mutineers in Irons... Others less guilty I punish'd and discharg'd.
1781 W. Cowper Anti-Thelypthora 188 The guiltiest still are ever least ashamed.
1814 J. C. Calhoun Speech 25 Feb. in Wks. (1864) II. 92 I know not which to pronounce the most guilty: the nation that inflicts a wrong, or that which quietly submits to it.
1821 Ld. Byron Marino Faliero (2nd issue) i. ii. 9 And secret as the grave to which they doom The guilty.
1870 R. W. Dale Week-day Serm. vi. 153 To pardon the guiltiest.
b. transferred of the instrument with which, or the scene where, a crime is committed; or the like.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > guilt > [adjective] > instrument or place
guilty1594
society > morality > moral evil > guilt > [adjective] > of instrument or place
guilty1594
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus v. ii. 182 This one hand yet is left to cut your throats, Whiles that Lauinia tweene her stumps doth hold, The bason that receaues your guiltie blood. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. iv. 64 Vpon me the guiltie doores were shut. View more context for this quotation
1645 J. Milton On Christ's Nativity: Hymn ii, in Poems 3 Onely with speeches fair She woo's the gentle Air To hide her guilty front with innocent Snow.
1710 D. Manley Mem. Europe I. iii. 361 Had he..not have gone to the guilty Rendezvous.
1780 W. Cowper Table Talk 450 The storms that overset the joys of life, Are but His rods to scourge a guilty land.
1821 Ld. Byron Cain iii. i, in Sardanapalus 431 He hangs his guilty head.
a1854 H. Reed Lect. Brit. Poets (1857) iv. 123 Perceiving that the barge was steering to the traitor's gate, she refused to enter that guilty portal.
2. † b. absol. as n. The person who is guilty. Obsolete.
a. That has committed a particular offence or crime, or is justly chargeable with a particular fault. Const. of.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [adjective] > that has committed an offence
guilty1297
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6898 Holdeþ hom gulti of þe dede & lateþ..in strong prison be ydo.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 289 Gilti of schedyng þerof [þe blood of Jesus Crist].
1414 T. Brampton Paraphr. Seven Penit. Psalms (1842) lxxi. 27 Thowȝ thou be gylty of synnes sevene.
1450 W. Lomnor in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 36 He was arreyned..vpon the appechementes, and fonde gylty.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 112 In some cases of homicide the guiltie person was put in a little-ease prison.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iii. ii. 17 We intend to try his Grace to day, If he be guiltie . View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iii. ii. 169 Least my selfe be guilty to selfe wrong, Ile stop mine eares against the Mermaids song.
1676 tr. G. Guillet de Saint-Georges Acct. Voy. Athens 46 They are guilty of very foul mistakes.
1681 Arraignm.,Tryal & Condemnation S. Colledge 6 You must plead to the Court, Guilty or not Guilty.
1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. §91 [We] are guilty of no innovation in that respect.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. xxvii. 338 One cannot but be astonished at the folly and impiety of pronouncing a man guilty, unless he was cleared by a miracle.
1792 J. Almon Anecd. Life W. Pitt (octavo ed.) III. xxxix. 39 I charge the Ministers with the highest crimes that men in their stations can be guilty of.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) II. 392 The heir at law..had been guilty of breach of trust.
1859 J. Lang Wanderings in India 381 Well, plead Not guilty, and you will have it.
1884 Ld. Esher in Law Times Rep. 73 616/2 (note) The deceased was also guilty of negligence or of want of reasonable care contributing to the accident.
1884 S. St. John Hayti iii. 86 The first and last chief who was ever guilty of so unaccountable a weakness.
1894 Solicitors' Jrnl. 39 2/2 The..report..must state that fraud has been committed, though the guilty person need not be specified.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > guilt > guilty person > [noun]
nocent1447
culpable1483
wite1513
guilty1550
misdemeanant1886
society > morality > moral evil > guilt > [noun] > guilty person
nocent1447
culpable1483
guilty1550
1550 W. Lynne tr. J. Funke Actes & Hist. Worlde 1532–50 in tr. J. Carion Thre Bks. Cronicles 231 b Therupon was the gyltye fastned aboute the necke with an yron coller..and then a fyer made..and so the Gylty roasted tyll he dyed.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xv. 644/1 Yet at length was that Castle enforced to surrender vpon composition of life, excepting the guilties of Burgundies death.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Cock & Fox in Fables 234 Oft a speedier Pain the Guilty feels.
c. In playful or ironical use.
ΚΠ
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost i. ii. 106 Ar. Is there not a Ballet Boy, of the King & the Begger? Boy. The worlde was very guiltie of such a Ballet some three ages since. View more context for this quotation
1648 E. Symmons Vindic. King Charles (new ed.) 15 These Papers might have been Evidences of Truth and of Loyalty too had the Surprizers of them been guilty of these vertues.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Shrop. 9 He died not guilty of much Wealth.
1673 R. Allestree Ladies Calling ii. iii. §23 The World is apt enough to malicious errors..but 'tis seldom guilty of the charitative.
a1704 T. Brown 1st Satyr Persius Imitated in Wks. (1707) I. i. 79 For read his Trifles, and scarce in one Line, You'll find him guilty of the least Design.
1717 G. Berkeley Jrnls. Trav. Italy 27 May in Wks. (1955) VII. 284 Church of the Carmelites very good,..in the front a little diamond work wch they are sometimes guilty of.
1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 12 He finds his fellow guilty of a skin Not coloured like his own.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > guilt > [adjective] > responsible for (a wrong)
guilty of (rarely to)a1250
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 25 Heo is gulti of þe bestes deaðe.
1395 J. Purvey Remonstr. (1851) 34 Ye ben giltif of alle, and cause of here dampnacioun.
1395 J. Purvey Remonstr. (1851) 139 He that takith gouernance of a ship in great tempest to a man vnkunnynge, is gilti of al the ship, and alle thingis conteynid therynne.
a1533 J. Frith Mirroure (?1536) ii. sig. Avi v Or els are they in ieopardye to perysh at euery pitte, and the eye gyltye of their destruccyon for withdrawing her office from them.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Sam. xxii. 22 I am giltye of the soules of thy fathers house.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iv. 538 Th' vnthought-on accident is guiltie To what we wildely do. View more context for this quotation
1648 R. Boyle Seraphic Love (1660) 24 It was..a want of Discretion, that was guilty of their faults.
1673 J. Milton At Vacation Exercise in Poems (new ed.) 68 Severn swift, guilty of Maidens death.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 78 With mortal Hatred I pursu'd his Life, Nor he, nor you, were guilty of the Strife.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 40 The preachers..cried out against all that were for moderate proceedings, as guilty of the blood that had been shed.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > [adjective] > liable to or deserving of punishment
guiltyc1380
punishable1429
obnoxious1604
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > [adjective] > bound or under obligation
indebted?c1225
boundena1400
owingc1400
debtfulc1425
belast1441
beholdena1450
worthy1469
obligate?a1475
subjectc1480
bound1488
debt-bounda1522
obstrict1527
addicted1535
oughting1567
devinct1573
bounded1586
obliged1596
affineda1616
boundant1654
guilty1700
obligated1740
behoven1880
duty-bound1908
due1913
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 10 Þei ben..gylti of dampnacion.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxvi. 66 He is gilty [1881 R.V. worthy] of deth.
c1430 Life St. Kath. (1884) 42 And wyth sotel sleyghtes maken hem gylty to þe peynes of helle.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 98 He schal be gylty to þe doom.
1577 T. Vautrollier tr. M. Luther Comm. Epist. to Galathians (new ed.) f. 72 By doing good works thou shalt be made worthie of eternall life: but by beleuing in Christ thou shalt be made culpable and giltie of eternal death.
1607 S. Hieron Platforme Obed. in Wks. (1620) I. 328 The sinne of nature..maketh vs guiltie of the wrath of God.
a1648 Ld. Herbert Life Henry VIII (1649) 392 A Man..guilty of the highest punishment his Lawes could inflict.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite i, in Fables 16 Some pray from Prison to be freed; and come When guilty of their Vows, to fall at home.
5. Of actions or conditions: Involving guilt, culpable, criminal.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > guilt > [adjective] > of action
guiltya1616
delinquent1637
society > morality > moral evil > guilt > [adjective] > specifically of actions or conditions
guiltya1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) ii. iv. 94 His Trespas yet liues guiltie in thy blood. View more context for this quotation
1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Cinyras & Myrrha in Fables 182 Ill she presag'd, and yet pursu'd her Lust; For guilty Pleasures give a double Gust.
1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 70 Let her pass, and charioted along In guilty splendour, shake the public ways.
1871 J. R. Macduff Memories of Patmos vii. 85 These Laodiceans were living in guilty self-deception.
6.
a. Of the conscience, mind, etc.: Laden with guilt, haunted by the recollection of crime.
ΚΠ
1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 v. vi. 11 Suspition alwaies haunts a guiltie mind.
1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 28 He was in great fear during the tempest, because of his guilty conscience.
1693 T. Creech tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires xiii. 267 Not sharp Revenge, not Hell it self can find A fiercer Torment, than a Guilty Mind.
1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 36 Revenge and wrong bring forth their kind, The foul cubs like their parents are, Their den is in the guilty mind.
1871 E. F. Burr Ad Fidem iii. 53 Our minds dark, because they are guilty.
b. Of feelings, etc.: Prompted by sense of guilt.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > regret > [adjective] > guilty
guilty1594
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. K4 Let guiltlesse soules be freed from guilty woe. View more context for this quotation
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 15 Their own guilty carriage protests they doe feare.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 1058 Naked left To guiltie shame. View more context for this quotation
1813 W. Scott Rokeby ii. xxiii. 88 In Wycliffe's conscious eye appear A guilty hope, a guilty fear.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > [adjective] > knowing, aware
wareOE
witterc1100
awarea1250
knowing1504
foreseen?1569
waring1571
guilty1599
cognoscent1649
self-conscious1694
sapient1764
knowledgeable1825
cognizant1839
knowful1937
1599 R. Hakluyt tr. William of Malmesbury in Princ. Navigations (new ed.) II. i. 7 Being guilty vnto himselfe of the murther of his kinseman Bruno..he trauailed vnto Ierusalem.
1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love iii. ii. sig. Fv Ile giue out..that I know the time, and place, where he stoale it: though my soule bee guilty of no such thing. View more context for this quotation
1605 Bp. J. Hall Medit. & Vowes II. §4 The Elephant, that being guilty to his deformity, he cannot abide to look on his owne face in the water, but seeks..muddy channels.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 479 The Lyon went away guiltie of his hurt.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 301 Not to suffer the Alcoran..to be read..of every one; guilty of the absurdities therein contained.
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 1) 386 Like an old courtesan, guiltie of her owne witherednesse.
1651 N. Bacon Contin. Hist. Disc. Govt. 277 In truth they were guilty oftentimes to themselves that they were not within the degrees.
1685 J. Dryden tr. Theocritus Idyllium xxiii, in Sylvæ 110 Farewel..ye Stones And Threshold guilty of my Midnight Moans.
1690–1 J. Tillotson Serm. (1735) I. xxxviii. 359 When we are not guilty to our selves that we have deserv'd them [persecutions] from men.
Compounds
In combinations.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iii. 38 I cannot thinke it, That he would sneake away so guilty-like, Seeing you comming. View more context for this quotation
1642 J. Eaton Honey-combe Free Justific. 251 Guiltie-making sinne.
1860 W. M. Thackeray On being found Out in Roundabout Papers 130 This wrath of the guilty-conscienced Sachs.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > guilt > [noun]
sakeOE
wite?c1225
blame1297
guiltc1330
fault1377
culpablenessc1380
guiltinessc1480
guiltyship1557
faultiness1571
fact1583
blameworthinessa1586
delinquishment1593
obnoxiousness1610
nocency1611
delinquence1613
nocence1614
piacle1619
deliquity1682
society > morality > moral evil > guilt > [noun] > state of
guiltinessc1480
guilt?1510
guiltyship1557
faultiness1571
blameworthinessa1586
uninnocence1593
obnoxiousness1610
nocency1611
nocence1614
culpability1675
1557 Bible (Whittingham) Rom. v. 18 Lykewyse then as by the offence of one, giltiship came on all men to condemnation.
Draft additions September 2017
guilty knowledge n. Criminal Law knowledge required of a person to establish criminal intent; (esp. in early use) an instance of this; cf. mens rea n.
ΚΠ
1800 Morning Chron. 20 Jan. Prove that he uttered it with a guilty knowledge.
1884 Central Law Jrnl. 19 409/2 The presumption of guilty knowledge, assuming that it existed, had been rebutted.
1910 Times of India 27 Oct. 7/1 The prosecution urged that her conduct showed a guilty knowledge.
2016 Belfast Tel. (Nexis) 21 Sept. 10 Their employers had guilty knowledge about the dangers associated with exposure to asbestos.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.c1000