culpa
|cul-pa|
/ˈkʌlpə/
fault, blame
Etymology
'culpa' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'culpa', where 'culpa' meant 'fault' or 'blame'.
'culpa' passed into Medieval Latin and was used in legal and ecclesiastical texts; it entered English as a learned borrowing (often in set phrases like 'mea culpa') and as a technical term in legal contexts.
Initially, it meant 'fault' or 'blame' in Latin; over time the basic sense has been retained, but in English the word is now chiefly used in formal, literary, legal, or set-phrase contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
fault, blame, or guilt (used chiefly in formal, literary, or legal contexts).
He admitted his culpa.
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Noun 2
law: negligence or fault that may give rise to liability (contrast with intent).
Proof of culpa was required to establish civil liability.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/12 17:54