‖n. [ L. ] (Law) Negligence or fault, as distinguishable from dolus (deceit, fraud), which implies intent, culpa being imputable to defect of intellect, dolus to defect of heart. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Culpabilities [ Cf. F. culpabilité. ] The state of being culpable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. culpable, coulpable, coupable, F. coupable, formerly also coupable, formerly also coulpable, culpable, fr. L. culpabilis, fr. culpare to blame, fr. culpa fault. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Deserving censure; worthy of blame; faulty; immoral; criminal. State Trials (1413). [ 1913 Webster ]

If he acts according to the best reason he hath, he is not culpable, though he be mistaken in his measures. Sharp. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Guilty; as, culpable of a crime. [ Obs. ] Spenser.

-- Cul"pa*ble*ness, n. -- Cul"pa*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Expressing blame; censuring; reprehensory; inculpating. [ 1913 Webster ]

Adjectives . . . commonly used by Latian authors in a culpatory sense. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. coulpe, fr.L.culpa. ] Blameworthiness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Banished out of the realme . . . without culpe. E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Coupon. ] A shred; a fragment; a strip of wood. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. corrupted for culpate, fr. Law Latin culpatus the accused, p. p. of L. culpare to blame. See Culpable. ] 1. One accused of, or arraigned for, a crime, as before a judge. [ 1913 Webster ]

An author is in the condition of a culprit; the public are his judges. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One quilty of a fault; a criminal. [ 1913 Webster ]