criminal (adj.) Copy link Outline I. In moral senseII. Technically; belonging to criminal procedureIII. In special phr. c. conversation, ădultĕrium • criminal (adj.): I. In moral sense: contrary to human or divine law: nĕfărius, scĕlestus, făcĭnŏrōsus: v. guilty, wicked. II. Technically; belonging to criminal procedure: Phr.: a c. charge, crīmen, accūsātio: to accuse any one on a c. charge, aliquem arguere crimine aliquo, Cic. v. to accuse, accusation. (Criminalis in purely legal writing "non solum in criminali causa sed etiam in pecuniaria," Imp. Cod. ap. Forc.) A c. trial, judicium puniendi maleficii causâ, as opp. to j. distrahendae controversiae causâ, Cic. Caec. 2, 6: to commence c. proceedings against any one, aliquem reum facere, in reos referre v. accuse. (a treatise) on c. law, *de jure publico, R. and A. (but the expression is too general: better *de eo jure quod in maleficiis puniendis versatur: or in technical writing, de jure criminali). III. In special phr. c. conversation, ădultĕrium: v. adultery.