implicate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To show that someone is involved in something wrong, especially a crime.

   The new evidence implicated two senior officials in the fraud.

2. 2
   verb

   To suggest or imply something as a necessary result.

   His refusal to answer implicated that he had something to hide.

First attested in the 15th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English implicaten (poorly attested), from implicat(e) (“wrapped, entwined; involved, connected (with)”, possibly also used as the past participle of implicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin implicātus, perfect passive participle of implicō (“to entangle, involve”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from plicō (“to fold”). Doublet of imply and employ.

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