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A calling in question as to purity of motives, rectitude of conduct, credibility, etc.; accusation; reproach; as, an impeachment of motives. Shak.

An accusation in general; a formal accusation. Bill of indictment. See under Bill.

erson is exasperated by unworthy or unjust treatment, by a mean action, or by a degrading accusation. He strides indignant, and with haughty cries To single fight the fairy prince defies. Tickell.

, or by obvious means, but obliquely or consequentially; by remote means; as, an indirect accusation, attack, answer, or proposal. By what bypaths and indirect, crooked ways I met this crown. Shak.

To communicate a knowledge of facts to,by way of accusation; to warn against anybody. Tertullus . . . informed the governor against Paul. Acts xxiv. 1.

One who offers an accusation; an informer. See Informer. [Obs. or R.] It was the last evidence of the kind; the informant was hanged. Burke.

ten, intended to cast opprobrium, censure, or reproach on another; a harsh or reproachful accusation; -- followed by against, having reference to the person or thing affected; as an invective against tyranny. The world will be able to judge of his [Junius'] motives for writing such famous invectives. Sir W. Draper.…

f his country. Smalridge. -- To lay one's self open to, to expose one's self to, as to an accusation. -- To lay open, to open; to uncover; to expose; to reveal. -- To lay over, to spread over; to cover. -- To lay out. (a) To expend. Macaulay. (b) To display; to discover.

To offer in opposition as a criminal charge or by way of accusation or reproach; to adduce as an objection or adverse reason. He gave to him to object his heinous crime. Spencer. Others object the poverty of the nation. Addison. The book ... giveth liberty to object any crime against such as are to be ordered. Whitgift…

An accusation or protest on account of an injury. There are three just grounds of war with Spain: one of plaint, two upon defense. Bacon.

, or the like; also, an inquisition of office and indictment by a grand jury; an official accusation presented to a tribunal by the grand jury in an indictment, or the act of offering an indictment; also, the indictment itself.

Proved. "Accusations firmly proven in his mind." Thackeray. Of this which was the principal charge, and was generally believed to beproven, he was acquitted. Jowett (Thucyd. ). Not proven (Scots Law), a verdict of a jury that the guilt of the accused is not made out, though not disproved. Mozley & W.…

To clear from accusation, or the charge of a crime or misdemeanor, as by oath or in ordeal.

To release from obligation, accusation, penalty, or the like; to absolve; to acquit. There may no gold them quyte. Chaucer. God will relent, and quit thee all his debt. Milton.

ssing reproach; insulting. Angels which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them. 2 Pet. ii. 11.

To return one charge or accusation with another; to chargeback fault or crime upon an accuser. It is not my business to recriminate, hoping sufficiently toBp. Stillingfleet.

The act of recriminating; an accusation brought by the accused against the accuser; a counter accusation. Accusations and recriminations passed back ward and forward between the contending parties. Macaulay.

Having the quality of recrimination; retorting accusation; recriminating.

The act of repeating; a doing or saying again; iteration. I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus to tire in repetition. Shak.

To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity. And with retorted scorn his back he turned. Milton.