guilt Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the state of having committed an offense
    guiltiness.
  2. noun remorse caused by feeling responsible for some offense
    guilty conscience; guilt feelings; guilt trip.

WordNet

Guilt noun
Etymology
OE. gilt, gult, AS. gylt, crime; probably originally signifying, the fine or mulct paid for an offence, and afterward the offense itself, and akin to AS. gieldan to pay, E. yield. See Yield, v. t.
Definitions
  1. The criminality and consequent exposure to punishment resulting from willful disobedience of law, or from morally wrong action; teh state of one who has broken a moral or political law; crime; criminality; offense against right.
    Satan had not answer, but stood struck With guilt of his own sin. Milton.
  2. Exposure to any legal penalty or forfeiture.
    A ship incurs guilt by the violation of a blockade. Kent.

Webster 1913