ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

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noun

accusation

ak-yuh-ZAY-shun/ˌækjuˈzeɪʃn/

A claim that someone did something wrong or illegal.

The accusation concerns the broken object, while the colleague denies responsibility.

In a contemporary office one colleague points to a broken office object while addressing another who raises hands in disagreement, an allegation with uncertainty rather than established guilt.

Etymology

acLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+cusLatincause, reason, or legal case

+ationLatinan action, process, or result

Here causa means a lawsuit or legal case: the underlying expression developed into calling someone to account. Accusation names the resulting complaint or claim of wrongdoing.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain237:44

… the inspector offered his resignation to the board being much nettled by an accusation of incompetence in the London papers …

1920s Fiction: Arthur Conan Doyle - Tales of Terror (Audiobook)

More examples

She rejected the accusation.
Several accusations remained unproved.
He apologized for making a false accusation.

Forms

accusation · accusations

accuse verb — To claim that someone did something wrong.

Similar words

allegation: Allegation often sounds more formal and may concern an unproved claim.
charge: Charge can imply a formal legal accusation.