Enditing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Composing or setting down in words, as in writing a formal document or literary piece ; bringing a formal charge against someone for a crime
2. The act of drafting text in written form, especially in an elevated or archaic style ; the act of formally charging a person with a wrongdoing
3. Putting thoughts into composed written language ; laying a formal accusation or indictment against a person for an offence

Etymology: "Enditing" is the present participle of "endite," a verb meaning to put into words or compose a written document. The verb is a variant of "indite," and the two spellings reflect a long-running alternation between "in-" and "en-" prefixes in English. Both come from the same Latin source, "indicere," meaning to proclaim or declare, and the spelling with "en-" was the older form, shaped by Old French influence on the prefix. Because the form is a variant of "indite," the word's history is essentially that of "indite." Its sense of formal composition has stayed close to the original idea of formally declaring something in writing, so the verb has kept the flavour of a legal or ceremonial act rather than ordinary writing.