rĕātus, ūs, m. [reus].
I Lit., the condition of an accused person , a state of impeachment (a word first used by Messala, acc. to Quint. 8, 3, 34): revocato ad reatum Alcibiade, Just. 4, 4, 4: si diutino tempore aliquis in reatu fuerit ... qui longo tempore in reatu agunt, Dig. 48, 19, 25; Mart. 2, 24, 1.—
II Meton.
A An offence of which one stands accused , a charge , Ap. Met. 7, 9, 12; 3, 6, 15; Prud. Cath. 11.—
B The dress or appearance of an accused person : mulier reatu mirāque tristitie deformis, Ap. Met. 9, 30, 9.—
III Trop., guilt (late Lat.): reatus sanguinis, Vulg. Deut. 21, 8; cf. id. Exod. 32, 35: praeteriit actu manet reatu, Aug. cont. Jul. Pelag. 6, 19, 60.