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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adjective

accusatory

uh-KYOO-zuh-tor-ee/əˈkjuːzətɔːri/

Expressing blame or a charge of wrongdoing.

The woman points an accusatory finger while holding a piece of the broken vase.

Beside the shattered remains of a vase, a stern woman holds up a matching broken piece while pointing directly at another woman, who recoils with open palms.

Etymology

acLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+cusLatincause, reason, or legal case

+atoryLatinconnected with an action or its performer

The lawsuit root leads through calling someone to account to the stance of a prosecutor or complainant. An accusatory tone adopts that stance by suggesting that someone has done wrong.

In context

Throughline Group0:42

rather than defending against the accusatory question I advise that people lean right into it push back hard against the insinuation buried within the question

MEDIA TRAINING: How to Answer an Accusatory Question

More examples

She resented the letter's accusatory tone.
The witness faced a series of accusatory remarks.
An accusatory glance passed between the two former partners.

Forms

accusatory · more accusatory · most accusatory

Similar words

critical: Expresses disapproval without necessarily alleging wrongdoing.
blaming: Directly assigns fault without the same formal register.