culprit
Syllabification: (cul·prit)
Pronunciation: /ˈkəlprət, ˈkəlˌprit/
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Definition of culprit
noun
Origin:
late 17th century (originally in the formula Culprit, how will you be tried?, said by the Clerk of the Crown in England to a prisoner pleading not guilty): perhaps from a misinterpretation of the written abbreviation cul. prist, for Anglo-Norman French Culpable: prest d'averrer notre bille '(You are) guilty: (We are) ready to prove our indictment'; in later use influenced by Latin culpa 'fault, blame'