Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CUL'PA-BLE, a. [Low. L. culpabilis; Fr. coupable; It. colpabile; from L. culpa, a fault; W. cwl, a fault, a flagging, a drooping, like fault, from fail.]

1. Blamable; deserving censure; as the person who has done wrong, or the act, conduct or negligence of the person. We say, the man is culpable, or voluntary ignorance is culpable.
2. Sinful; criminal; immoral; faulty. But generally, culpable is applied to acts less atrocious than crimes.
3. Guilty of; as, culpable of a crime. [Not used.] – Spenser.