accusation

noun

Etymology: First attested in the late 14th century. Inherited from Middle English accusacion, borrowed from Old French acusacion (French: accusation), from Latin accūsātiō (“accusation, indictment”), from accūsō (“blame, accuse”). Doublet of accusatio. More at accuse. Equivalent to accuse + -ation.

1. The act of accusing.

   “We come not by the way of accusation / To taint that honour every good tongue blesses.”

2. A formal charge brought against a person in a court of law.

   “[They] set up over his head his accusation.”

3. An allegation.

   “ungrounded accusations”

   “a blind accusation”