Word: indictment

Associations

An "indictment" is a formal accusation that someone has committed a crime. It is often used in a legal context, where a grand jury decides if there is enough evidence to charge someone.

• Example 1: "The indictment against the suspect was announced in court." This shows the official announcement of the accusation.
• Example 2: "She was careful to follow the news about the indictment of the politician." This indicates the public interest in legal charges against a public figure.
• Example 3: "The lawyer prepared a strong defense to challenge the indictment." This emphasizes the legal response to such an accusation.

A close synonym is "charge," but an indictment is usually a more formal process, often involving a grand jury, while a charge can be made by a police officer or prosecutor directly.

Substitution

In place of "indictment," you can use:

• "accusation" - This is broader and not necessarily formal.
• "charge" - As noted, this can be less formal and may not involve a jury.
• "allegation" - This suggests unproven claims and doesn’t imply that a formal process has started.

Each substitution might change the legal weight of the statement.

Deconstruction

The word "indictment" comes from the Latin "indictare," which means to proclaim or announce.

• "In-" is a prefix meaning 'not' or 'in.'
• "Dict" comes from the Latin "dictare," meaning 'to say' or 'to speak.'
• The suffix "-ment" indicates a process or condition.

So, an indictment literally means a condition of being said or proclaimed, specifically in the legal sense of declaring someone accused.

Inquiry

• Have you ever heard about an indictment in the news? What was the case about?
• How do you think an indictment affects a person's life, especially if they are famous?
• Can you think of a situation where someone might be indicted but later found not guilty? What does that say about the legal process?