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of accusing or charging with a crime or with a lighter offense. We come not by the way of accusation To taint that honor every good tongue blesses. Shak.

Previous accusation.

ntally. He conceived it just that accidentals . . . should sink with the substance of the accusation. Fuller.

Accusation. [R.] Byron.

Producing accusations; accusatory. "This hath been a very accusative age." Sir E. Dering.

By way accusation.

Pertaining to, or containing, an accusation; as, an accusatory libel. Grote.

Accusation. [Obs.] Shak.

Accusation. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To set free, release or discharge from an obligation, duty, liability, burden, or from an accusation or charge; -- now followed by of before the charge, formerly by from; as, the jury acquitted the prisoner; we acquit a man of evil intentions.

g; a solemn charging on oath, or under the penalty of a curse; an earnest appeal. What an accusation could not effect, an adjuration shall. Bp. Hall.

To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation.

Accusation. [Obs.]

An accusation; a process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offense against the public.

a confession of guilt by a prisoner charged with treason or felony, together with an accusation of his accomplish and a giving evidence against them in order to obtain his own pardon. The term is no longer in use; it corresponded to what is now known as turning king's (or queen's) evidence in England, and state's evide…

A calling to an account to faults; accusation. In the sixth satire, which seems only an Arraignment of the whole sex, there is a latent admonition. Dryden.

. J. S. Mill. Without some power of persuading or confuting, of defending himself against accusations, . . . no man could possibly hold an ascendent position. Grote.

th of a ship's company at the time of her leaving port. -- Bill of indictment, a written accusation lawfully presented to a grand jury. If the jury consider the evidence sufficient to support the accusation, they indorse it "A true bill," or "Not found," or "Ignoramus", or "Ignored." -- Bill of lading, a written accou…

ted by means of intimidation; also, extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation, exposure, or censure.

False accusation of crime or offense, or a malicious and false representation of the words or actions of another, with a view to injure his good name. The calumniation of her principal counselors. Bacon.