Origins of the word 'crime'\n\n The historical study of a word is called etymology, and the word 'crime' emanated from the old French word crimne, which in turn came from crimen, a Latin word, the definition being an accusation and cerno, denoting 'I give judgment' or 'I decide'.

Etymology. From Middle English cryminal, borrowed from Anglo-Norman criminal, from Late Latin criminalis, from Latin crimen ( crime ).