Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GUILT, n. gilt. [Sax. gylt, a crime, and a debt, connected with gyldan, to pay, or it is from the root of D. and G. schuld, Dan. skyld, a debt, fault, guilt. See Shall, Should. If the word is from gildan, gyldan, to pay, it denotes a debt contracted by an offense, a fine, and thence came the present signification.]

1. Criminality; that state of a moral agent which results from his actual commission of a crime or offense, knowing it to be a crime, or violation of law. To constitute guilt there must be a moral agent enjoying freedom of will, and capable of distinguishing between right and wrong, and a willful or intentional violation of a known law, or rule of duty. The guilt of a person exists, as soon as the crime is committed; but to evince it to others, it must be proved by confession, or conviction in due course of law. Guilt renders a person a debtor to the law, as it binds him to pay a penalty in money or suffering. Guilt therefore implies both criminality and liableness to punishment. Guilt may proceed either from a positive act or breach of law, or from voluntary neglect of known duty.
2. Criminality in a political or civil view; exposure to forfeiture or other penalty. A ship incurs guilt by the violation of a blockade. Kent.
3. Crime; offense. Shak.