guilt

n. [ OE. gilt, gult, AS. gylt, crime; probably originally signifying, the fine or mulct paid for an offence, and afterward the offense itself, and akin to AS. gieldan to pay, E. yield. See Yield, v. t. ] 1. The criminality and consequent exposure to punishment resulting from willful disobedience of law, or from morally wrong action; the state of one who has broken a moral or political law; crime; criminality; offense against right. [ 1913 Webster ]

Satan had not answer, but stood struck
With guilt of his own sin. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Exposure to any legal penalty or forfeiture. [ 1913 Webster ]

A ship incurs guilt by the violation of a blockade. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A feeling of regret or remorse for having committed some improper act; a recognition of one's own responsibility for doing something wrong. “Depression is often rooted in guilt which has not been dealt with in an appropriate way.” “Guilt is a natural and appropriate consequence to a wrong action.” [ PJC ]

adv. In a guilty manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being guilty. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Free from guilt; innocent. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Ex. xx. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without experience or trial; unacquainted (with). [ 1913 Webster ]

Such gardening tools, as art, yet rude,
Guiltless of fire, had formed. Milton.

-- Guilt"less*ly, adv. -- Guilt"less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. mentally anguished due to feelings of guilt{ 3 }.
Syn. -- guilt-sick. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Made sick by consciousness of guilt. “A guilt-sick conscience.” Beau. & Fl.
Syn. -- guilt-ridden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Gultier superl. Guiltiest. ] [ AS. gyltig liable. See Guilt. ] 1. Having incurred guilt; criminal; morally delinquent; wicked; chargeable with, or responsible for, something censurable; justly exposed to penalty; -- used with of, and usually followed by the crime, sometimes by the punishment; as, guilty of murder. [ 1913 Webster ]

They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Matt. xxvi. 66. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor he, nor you, were guilty of the strife. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Evincing or indicating guilt; involving guilt; as, a guilty look; a guilty act; a guilty feeling. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Conscious; cognizant. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Condemned to payment. [ Obs. & R. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]