Note: Commonly used substantively; as, the accused, one
charged with an offense; the defendant in a criminal
case.
Neither can they prove the things whereof they now
accuse me. --Acts xxiv.
13.
We are accused of having persuaded Austria and
Sardinia to lay down their arms. --Macaulay.
2. To charge with a fault; to blame; to censure.
Their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else
excusing one another. --Rom. ii. 15.
3. To betray; to show. [L.] --Sir P.
Sidney.
Syn: To charge; blame; censure; reproach; criminate; indict;
impeach; arraign.
Usage: To {Accuse}, {Charge}, {Impeach}, {Arraign}. These
words agree in bringing home to a person the
imputation of wrongdoing. To accuse is a somewhat
formal act, and is applied usually (though not
exclusively) to crimes; as, to accuse of treason.
Charge is the most generic. It may refer to a crime, a
dereliction of duty, a fault, etc.; more commonly it
refers to moral delinquencies; as, to charge with
dishonesty or falsehood. To arraign is to bring (a
person) before a tribunal for trial; as, to arraign
one before a court or at the bar public opinion. To
impeach is officially to charge with misbehavior in
office; as, to impeach a minister of high crimes. Both
impeach and arraign convey the idea of peculiar
dignity or impressiveness.