What verb describes the act of presenting a formal, written accusation charging a defendant with a crime?

• A. Indict
• B. Accuse
• C. Prosecute
• D. Indictment

Answer: (A)

Indict is the formal act of charging someone with a crime, typically carried out through a grand jury. The resulting document is called an indictment, but the action described by the verb is to indict. Accuse is a general statement of wrongdoing, not a formal charging action. Prosecute means to pursue the case in court, not to issue the formal charge. Indictment refers to the written charge itself, not the act of presenting it.