Criminary

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

  1. A place of confinement for those found guilty of wrongdoing ; an institution meant to detain lawbreakers
  2. An establishment designed for the custody of individuals convicted of offenses ; a facility where perpetrators serve sentences
  3. A building intended for incarcerating criminals ; a location used to imprison those adjudged culpable for crimes

Etymology: The adjective in question appears to be a variant or possibly a mistaken form related to "criminatory," which itself is an uncommon adjective derived from the noun "crime." The root "crime" entered English from Old French "crim" or "crime," which in turn came from Latin "crimen," meaning "charge, accusation, or fault." This Latin term is believed to derive from the verb "cernere," meaning "to separate, decide, or judge," indicating an original sense connected to judgment or accusation. While "crimininary" is not widely attested in standard English dictionaries, it seems to have been formed by analogy with other adjectives ending in "-inary," a suffix often used to produce adjectives from nouns, implying a relationship or pertaining to the root concept. The suffix "-inary" comes from Latin "-inarius," used to form adjectives indicating belonging or relating to something. Therefore, "crimininary" would mean "pertaining to crime" or "relating to criminal matters." The more commonly accepted adjective is "criminal," derived from the same Latin root but passing through Old French "criminel." "Criminal" has been in English since the late Middle Ages and solidified its meaning as relating to crime or criminals. The rarity of "crimininary" suggests it may have been an attempt to create a more formal or Latinate-sounding adjective, possibly in legal or academic contexts, but it never gained widespread usage. If encountered, the form likely reflects the pattern of forming adjectives from Latin-derived nouns and may appear in historical or specialized texts. Its obscurity underscores the preference in English for "criminal" and related forms, which have long been established in both common and legal vocabulary.

Synonyms: criminal, culpable, guilty, offending

Antonyms: innocent, lawful, legal