Indict

The verb indict means to officially accuse someone of a crime.

Synonyms are charge, impeach, censure, or arraign.

The word origins from Anglo-French (late 13th century) enditer meaning “accuse, indict, find chargeable with a criminal offense” and Old French enditier, enditer meaning “to dictate, write, compose, (legally) indict”. It also sources from Vulgar Latin indictare meaning “to declare, accuse, proclaim in writing”. It comes from in– meaning “in” plus Latin dictare meaning “to declare, dictate”.

He was indicted for multiple homicide.

Those exporters have been indicted for illegal trading practices.

The public prosecutor moved to indict the criminal.