A person charged with a crime or wrongdoing. Having been formally charged with an offense.
From Latin accusatus, past participle of accusare (to call to account), from ad- (to) + causa (cause, lawsuit). Originally meant to summon someone to answer for their actions.
The legal principle 'innocent until proven guilty' makes 'accused' a fascinating word - it simultaneously implies wrongdoing and protects innocence, carrying both suspicion and legal protection in a single term.
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