Vocabulary 26 - Words Related to Crime
Every day we wait with bated breath for some good news. Unfortunately we usually only get to see or hear or read about news that is far from good. We hear about a bank robbery, a murder or an act of terrorism. We watch the news and learn something new about a crime committed earlier. We hear that somebody has been arrested and taken into custody, that somebody else has been convicted of a crime and been sentenced to jail. We also hear that someone was falsely accused and he has been acquitted. Life is full of twists and turns and we hear about a host of terrible incidents that leave a bad taste in the mouth.
The only positive point about such incidents is that they add a number of words to the English language. Any act of crime and its associated activities set in motion a chain of events. Once a
crime is committed a
complaint ensues, an
investigation is conducted, an
arrest made,
charges brought and the
case is
tried in
court.
Similarly, somebody might accuse another of a wrongdoing and they would be slapped with a libel suit or a slander charge. Sometimes an apology is made and the case is dropped and at other times the case goes to court and a trial is conducted, after which a judgment is made. It might not stop with a judgment, as under law one has the right to appeal.
Many of the words in the foregoing paragraphs are words connected with crime or law. Crime has contributed a host of words to the English language and the legal fraternity makes use of such words as appellant, cross-examination, deposition and injunction, as well as many, many other technical terms. Take the quiz that follows and learn some of the words that are associated with crime and its related activities.
A 'conviction' is a guilty verdict against someone in a court of law.
An 'acquittal' is a discharge from custody given to someone on trial who has not been convicted