/ɡɪlt/
OriginFrom 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.
- uncountable, usuallyResponsibility for wrongdoing.
- uncountable, usuallyThe state of having been found guilty or admitted guilt in legal proceedings.
- uncountable, usuallyRegret for having done wrong.
“Appropriate guilt is experienced when we actually do something objectively wrong—for example, exploit another, betray a trust, and so on. […] Inappropriate guilt occurs from believing a lie and is res”
- intransitive, obsoleteTo commit offenses; act criminally.
- informal, transitiveTo cause someone to feel guilt, particularly in order to influence their behaviour.
“He didn't want to do it, but his wife guilted him into it.”
“Shame based parents would have guilted him for expressing anger.”
“We don't have to be manipulated, guilted, coerced, or forced into anything.”
Formsguilts(plural) · guilts(present, singular, third-person) · guilting(participle, present) · guilted(participle, past) · guilted(past)