Part 659

4. That which occasion crime. [Obs.]

The tree of life, the crime of our first father's fall. Spenser.

Capital crime, a crime punishable with death.

Syn. -- Sin; vice; iniquity; wrong. -- Crime, Sin,Vice. Sin is the generic term, embracing wickedness of every kind, but specifically denoting an offense as committed against God. Crime is strictly a violation of law either human or divine; but in present usage the term is commonly applied to actions contrary to the laws of the State. Vice is more distinctively that which springs from the inordinate indulgence of the natural appetites, which are in themselves innocent. Thus intemperance, unchastity, duplicity, etc., are vices; while murder, forgery, etc., which spring from the indulgence of selfish passions, are crimes.

Crime"ful (kr?m"f?l), a. Criminal; wicked; contrary to law, right, or dury. [Obs.] Shak.

Crime"less, a. Free from crime; innocent. Shak.

Crim"i*nal (kr?m"?-nal), a. [L. criminalis, fr. crimen: cf. F. criminel. See Crime.] 1. Guilty of crime or sin.

The neglect of any of the relative duties renders us criminal in the sight of God. Rogers.

2. Involving a crime; of the nature of a crime; -- said of an act or of conduct; as, criminal carelessness.

Foppish and fantastic ornaments are only indications of vice, not criminal in themselves. Addison.

3. Relating to crime; -- opposed to civil; as, the criminal code.

The officers and servants of the crown, violating the personal liberty, or other right of the subject . . . were in some cases liable to criminal process. Hallam.

Criminal action (Law), an action or suit instituted to secure conviction and punishment for a crime. -- Criminal conversation (Law), unlawful intercourse with a married woman; adultery; -- usually abbreviated, crim. con. -- Criminal law, the law which relates to crimes.

Crim"i*nal, n. One who has commited a crime; especially, one who is found guilty by verdict, confession, or proof; a malefactor; a felon.

Crim"i*nal*ist, n. One versed in criminal law. [R.]

Crim`i*nal"i*ty (kr?m`?-n?l"?-t?), n. [LL. criminalitas, fr. L. criminalis. See Criminal.] The quality or state of being criminal; that which constitutes a crime; guiltiness; guilt.

This is by no means the only criterion of criminality. Blackstone.

Crim"i*nal*ly (kr?m"?-nal-l?), adv. In violation of law; wickedly.

Crim"i*nal*ness, n. Criminality. [R.]

Crim"i*nate (kr&?;m"&?;-n&?;t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Criminated (- n&?;`t&?;d); p. pr. & vb. n. Criminating (-n&?;"t&?;ng).] [L. criminatus, p. p. of criminare, criminari, to criminate, fr. crimen. See Crime.] 1. To accuse of, or charge with, a crime.

To criminate, with the heavy and ungrounded charge of disloyalty and disaffection, an uncorrupt, independent, and reforming parliament. Burke.

2. To involve in a crime or in its consequences; to render liable to a criminal charge.

Impelled by the strongest pressure of hope and fear to criminate him. Macaulay.

Crim`i*na"tion (kr?m`?-n?"sh?n), n. [L. criminatio.] The act of accusing; accusation; charge; complaint.

The criminations and recriminations of the adverse parties. Macaulay.

Crim"i*na*tive (kr?m"?-n?-t?v), a. Charging with crime; accusing; criminatory. R. North.

Crim"i*na*to*ry (-t?-r?), a. Relating to, or involving, crimination; accusing; as, a criminatory conscience.

Crim`i*nol"o*gy (-n?l"?-j?), n. [L. crimen, crimenis, crime + -logy.] A treatise on crime or the criminal population. -- Crim`i*nol"o*gist (-j&?;st), n.