Etymology
From Middle English gilt, gult, from Old English gylt (guilt, sin, offense, crime, fault), of obscure origin, but possibly related with Old English ġieldan (to pay, requite, punish), whence yield. More specifically it could be connected with Proto-West Germanic *guldijā, whence Middle Low German gülde, Middle High German gülte (debt, fee, financial duty). However, neither the Old English stem form nor the -t (instead of -d) fit the continental form.
Noun
guilt (usually uncountable, plural guilts)
- Responsibility for wrongdoing.
- (law) The state of having been found guilty or admitted guilt in legal proceedings.
- The regret of having done wrong.
Derived terms
- beguilt
- guilt complex
- guiltfree
- guiltless
- guiltlessness
- guilt-ridden
- guilt trip
- guilty
- self-guilt
Credits
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