delation

From Latin dēlātiō.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /dɪˈleɪʃn̩/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /diˈleɪʃn̩/

delation (countable and uncountable, plural delations)

1. (obsolete) Conveyance.
2. (law) An accusation or charge brought against someone, especially by an informer; the act of accusing someone.
   • 1858, John Addington Symonds, Renaissance in Italy, Volumes 1 and 2‎:

     Some curious circumstances respecting delation, prison life, and autos da fe are here minutely recorded.

   • 1789, Edward Gibbon, The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire‎:

     Such public defiance might become Valentinian; but it could leave no room for the unworthy delation of the philosopher Maximus, which supposes some more private offence, (Zosimus, l. iv. p. 200, 201.)

   • 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published 2012, page 253:

     A wise woman who was popular with her neighbours might escape delation; whereas one who had fallen out with them might find herself accused not just of charming, but even of black witchcraft.

   • 2012, Bradford E. Hinze, Chapter 1: A Decade of Disciplining Theologians, Richard R. Gaillardetz (editor), When the Magisterium Intervenes, Liturgical Press (Michael Glazier), page 9,

     Delations frequently come from a local bishop, but there have been cases where vigilante groups (e.g., Catholics United for the Faith) and individuals have complained about a theologian's writings or lectures.

• (accusation): accusation, denunciation

• dial tone, indolate, tiadenol