incriminate
UK[ɪnˈkrɪmɪneɪt]US[ɪnˈkrɪmɪneɪt]
v
to make someone seem guilty of a crime
v
to involve someone in a crime or make them appear to be involved
Morpheme Breakdown
in
crimin
ate
in
in, into, on
crimin
charge, accusation, crime
ate
Etymology
the word incriminate is built from latin components. the prefix 'in-' carries the sense of 'into' or 'towards', directing action. the core root 'crimin' derives from the latin noun 'crimen', which originally meant a judicial charge or accusation, and later evolved to mean the crime itself. the suffix '-ate' is a common verb-forming element in latin-derived english. thus, the literal construction means 'to bring into an accusation'. over time, the meaning solidified into the modern sense of making someone appear guilty of a crime or implicating them in wrongdoing.
Analysis
Structure: in + crimin + ate
in- (latin, prefix meaning 'in, into, on'), crimin (latin, root from 'crimen' meaning 'charge, accusation, crime'), -ate (latin, verb-forming suffix)
Examples
the evidence was used to incriminate the suspect.
she refused to answer questions that might incriminate her.
the stolen goods found in his car were enough to incriminate him.