culprit
UK: ˈkʌlprɪt | US: ˈkʌlprɪt
n. a person who is responsible for a crime or wrongdoing
n. the source or cause of a problem or error
The word "culprit" originated in 17th-century English legal jargon. It stems from the Anglo-French phrase "Culpable: prest (d'averrer nostre bille)" ("Guilty: ready (to prove our case)"), used when a prisoner pleaded not guilty. Over time, "culpable prest" was shortened to "cul. prit," eventually merging into "culprit." The morpheme "culp" derives from Latin culpa (blame), while "rit" is a fossilized remnant of the legal abbreviation. The word's evolution reflects its courtroom roots, transitioning from a procedural term to a label for the accused.
The police identified the culprit through DNA evidence.
Poor maintenance was the culprit behind the machine's failure.
She played the innocent victim, but everyone knew she was the real culprit.
The investigation aimed to uncover the culprit of the financial fraud.
In the story, the detective cleverly exposes the culprit in the final chapter.