ə̇nˈdītmənt noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Medieval Latin indictare to indict, from Anglo-French enditer ) of earlier indytement, enditement, from Middle English inditement, enditement, from Anglo-French enditement, from enditer to indict + Old French -ment — more at indict
1.
a. : the action of indicting ; specifically : the legal process by which a bill of indictment is preferred to and presented by a jury (as a grand jury)
b. : the state of being indicted
2. : a formal written statement framed by the prosecuting authority of a state and found by a jury (as a grand jury) charging a person with an offense — compare bill of indictment
3. Scots law : a process of bringing a person to trial for a crime at the instance of the lord advocate