different between culprit vs guilt

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman cul. prit, contraction of culpable: prest (d'averrer nostre bille) 'guilty: ready (to prove our case)', words used by prosecutor in opening a trial, mistaken in English for an address to the defendant. See culpable.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?k???p??t]

Noun

culprit (plural culprits)

1. The person or thing at fault for a problem or crime.

   I have tightened the loose bolt that was the culprit; it should work now.
2. (Britain, law) A prisoner accused but not yet tried.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:criminal

Related terms

• culpable
• mea culpa

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??lt/
• Rhymes: -?lt
• Homophone: gilt

Etymology 1

From Middle English gilt, gult, from Old English gylt (“guilt, sin, offense, crime, fault”), of obscure origin. Perhaps connected with Old English ?ieldan (“to yield, pay, pay for, reward, requite, render, worship, serve, sacrifice to, punish”), whence yield.

Noun

guilt (usually uncountable, plural guilts)

1. Responsibility for wrongdoing.

   Antonym: innocence

2. (law) The state of having been found guilty or admitted guilt in legal proceedings.

   Antonym: innocence

3. The regret of having done wrong.

   Synonym: remorse

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• regret

Etymology 2

From Middle English gilten, gylten, from Old English gyltan (“to commit sin, be guilty”), from gylt (“guilt, sin, offense, crime, fault”).

Verb

guilt (third-person singular simple present guilts, present participle guilting, simple past and past participle guilted)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To commit offenses; act criminally.
2. (transitive) To cause someone to feel guilt, particularly in order to influence their behaviour.