
noun
- an act of indicting.
- Law. a formal accusation initiating a criminal case, presented by a grand jury and usually required for felonies and other serious crimes.
- any charge, accusation, serious criticism, or cause for blame.
- the state of being indicted.
noun criminal law
- a formal written charge of crime formerly referred to and presented on oath by a grand jury
- any formal accusation of crime
- Scot a charge of crime brought at the instance of the Lord Advocate
- the act of indicting or the state of being indicted
c.1300, endytement “action of accusing,” from Anglo-French enditement, from enditer (see indict). Meaning “legal document containing a charge” is from c.1500. Latin spelling restored 17c.
A formal accusation of a crime, presented to the accused party after the charges have been considered by a grand jury.