To accuse or inform against someone; to report or denounce a person for wrongdoing.
From Latin 'delatus,' the past participle of 'deferre' meaning 'to carry away' or 'report.' The word entered English from legal and Latin traditions, particularly used in historical and ecclesiastical contexts.
In the Roman Empire and medieval times, 'delate' meant to inform on someone—often dangerously—which is why the word carries sinister connotations even today, hinting at the power of accusation.
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