It's the word of the day for November 29th.
Today's word is exculpatory, spelled E-X-C-U-L-P-A-T-O-R-Y.
Exculpatory is an adjective.
Something described as exculpatory serves to prove that someone is not guilty of doing something wrong.
Here's the word used in a sentence from the LA Times.
That agreement also requires prosecutors to implement new policies to prevent the misuse of informants,
maintain records and audits,
and to disclose exculpatory evidence to criminal defendants involving snitches.
The word exculpatory is the adjectival form of the verb exculpate, meaning to clear from guilt.
The pair of words cannot be accused of being secretive.
Their joint etymology reveals all.
They are tied to the medieval Latin verb exculpare, a word that combines the prefix ex,
meaning out of, or away from, with the Latin noun culpa, meaning blame.
The related but lesser known terms, inculpate, meaning to incriminate,
and inculpatory, meaning implying or imputing guilt, are antonyms of exculpate and exculpatory.
A related adjective, culpable, describes someone or something deserving of blame.
All of these words are found most often in formal speech and writing,
but if you choose to drop them into everyday conversation, your dictionary exculpates you.
With your Word of the Day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.
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