Whodunit plot element

• The act of imputing blame or guilt
• An assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence
• A formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Word definitions in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
noun COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES allegations/accusations/charges of corruption ▪ He has strongly denied allegations of corruption. baseless rumours/charges/accusations COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS ■ ADJECTIVE false ▪ There were a lot of false accusations ...

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; the act of imputing blame or guilt [syn: accusal ] an assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence; "the newspaper published charges that Jones was guilty of drunken driving" [syn: charge ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Accusation \Ac`cu*sa"tion\, n. [OF. acusation, F. accusation, L. accusatio, fr. accusare. See Accuse .] The act of accusing or charging with a crime or with a lighter offense. We come not by the way of accusation To taint that honor every good tongue blesses. ...

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
late 14c., from Old French acusacion or directly from Latin accusationem (nominative accusatio ), noun of action from past participle stem of accusare (see accuse ).

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Accusation can refer to: The Accusation , a 1951 Italian film Criminal accusation False accusation