English word criminal comes from Proto-Indo-European *-men-, Proto-Indo-European *krey-, Latin cerno
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *-men- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| *krey- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| cerno | Latin (lat) | I decide. I distinguish, discern, see. I perceive. I separate, sift. |
| *kreimen | Proto-Italic (itc-pro) | |
| crimen | Latin (lat) | (in respect to the accused) The fault one is accused of; crime, misdeed, offence, fault.. (in respect to the accuser) A charge, accusation, reproach; calumny, slander.. A cause of a crime; criminal.. A judicial decision, verdict, or judgment.. An object of reproach, invective.. An object representing a crime.. The crime of lewdness; adultery. |
| criminalis | Late Latin (LL) | |
| criminal | Anglo-Norman (xno) | |
| criminal | English (en) | (figuratively) Abhorrent or very undesirable, even if allowed by law.. Being against the law; forbidden by law.. Guilty of breaking the law.. Of or relating to crime or penal law. A person who is guilty of a crime, notably breaking the law. |