LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
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“guilty” in Latin

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

guilty
nocens (denotes guilt, in a specified case, with regard to a single action): noxius (in the poets, nocuus relates to the nature and character in general. Of a guilty person, it only represents him as the author and cause of some hurt, like βλαβερός): sons (morally guilty; condemned, or worthy of condemnation, like θῶος. Döderlein). To be guilty of a crime, culpam or facinus in se admittere; scelus (in sese) concipere Vid: more under to “commit a CRIME”). To be guilty of so dreadful a sin, tantum sceleris or (stronger) flagitii admittere (Cic.). What crime can be imagined, of which this man has not been guilty? quid mali aut sceleris ringi aut excogitari potest, quod non ille conceperit? (Cic.). To declare or pronounce anybody guilty, aliquem noxium judicare [Vid: To CONDEMN]. To consider anybody guilty, aliquem nocentem habere: to punish the guilty, punire sontes.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for guilty?
The usual Latin words for “guilty” are noceō, noxius, sōns; also culpa, scelus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.