convicted
UK: kənˈvɪktɪd | US: kənˈvɪktɪd
adj. formally declared guilty of a crime by a legal verdict
vt. (past tense of "convict") to have proven someone guilty in a court of law
The word "convicted" traces back to Latin convictus, the past participle of convincere ("to prove wrong/overcome"). The morpheme con- (together) intensifies vict- (from vincere, "to conquer"), reflecting the idea of "overcoming doubt" in a legal context. Over time, convict shifted from "proving guilt" to "declaring guilt," with -ed marking the past tense or passive state.
The jury convicted him of fraud after a two-week trial.
She was convicted on three counts of theft.
Despite new evidence, the convicted man maintained his innocence.
The judge convicted the defendant based on forensic proof.
Wrongfully convicted individuals often struggle to rebuild their lives.