Present participle of 'delate,' the act of informing against or formally accusing someone.
From the same Latin root 'delatus' as 'delate,' with the -ing suffix forming the continuous aspect of the verb, indicating an ongoing action of accusation or reporting.
In Scottish legal history, 'delating' was such a serious matter that professional informers called 'delators' were sometimes employed—imagine getting paid to report your neighbors' crimes!
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