Legal Definitions - delate

Definition: Delate (di-layt), verb. To accuse, to inform against, to denounce in court, especially a Scottish ecclesiastical court.

Examples:

• He was delated by his neighbor for stealing apples from his orchard.
• The minister was delated to the church court for preaching heretical doctrines.

The examples illustrate how delate is used to accuse or inform against someone in a legal or religious context. In both examples, someone is being reported to a higher authority for wrongdoing. The term is often used in Scottish law and church proceedings.