reātus, ūs, m. reus. 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.

— Meton. An offence of which one stands accused, a charge, App. M. 7, p. 191, 31; 3, p. 132, 10; Prud. Cath. 11.

— The dress or appearance of an accused person: mulier reatu mirāque tristitie deformis, App. M. 9, p. 231, 3.

— 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.