guilty
UK: ˈɡɪlti | US: ˈɡɪlti
Definition
adj. responsible for committing a wrongdoing or crime
adj. feeling remorse for having done something wrong
adj. involving guilt or blame (e.g., "a guilty secret")
Structure
guilt <fault, blame>y <adjective suffix>
Etymology
The word "guilty" originates from Old English gyltig, derived from gylt (meaning "crime" or "sin"). The root gylt evolved into Modern English "guilt," retaining its core meaning of moral or legal culpability. The suffix -y (from Old English -ig) transforms the noun into an adjective, describing a state of being at fault. Over time, "guilty" expanded from literal legal blame to include emotional remorse, reflecting the word’s dual role in law and psychology.
Examples
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