Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “accusation” come from?

Accusation comes from Middle English accusacion, from Old French acusacion, from Latin accusatio, derived from the verb accuso meaning to call to account, formed from the prefix ad- and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ád, related to h₂éd.

accusation (English): The act of accusing; A formal charge brought...

Definitions

  1. The act of accusing; A formal charge brought...

Ancestry of “accusation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishaccusacion—
2Old Frenchacusacionaccusation
3Latinaccūsātiō—
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “accusation”

  • counteraccusation
  • preaccusation
  • reaccusation
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →