Culpa
/ˈkʌl.pə/noun
A term used to indicate guilt or fault.
Did you know?In ancient Roman law, 'culpa' was not just a personal failing but a serious offense that could invoke divine retribution, linking guilt with the supernatural.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kel-
“to strike or hit, suggesting a sense of causing harm.”
Latin
Latin
culpa
“fault, blame, or guilt, often associated with moral failing.”
Old French
Old French
culpe
“blame, fault, or sin, used in legal contexts.”
Middle English
Middle English
culpe
“guilt or sin, often in a religious or moral sense.”
Modern English
English
culpa
“used in legal and philosophical contexts to denote guilt.”