I.one who calls another to account; hence, transferred to public life, an accuser, a plaintiff, esp. in a state-offence (while petitor signifies a plaintiff in private causes; yet accusator is often used for every kind of accuser, and then includes the petitor, v. accuso no. II. A.).
I. In gen. (very freq.): “accusatorem pro omni actore et petitore appello,” Cic. Part. Or. 32, 110: “possumus petitoris personam capere, accusatoris deponere?” id. Quint. 13 fin.; cf. Quint. 6, 1, 36: “accusatores multos esse in civitate utile est, ut metu contineatur audacia,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 20: “acres atque acerbi,” id. Brut. 36: “vehemens et molestus,” id. ib. 34 fin.: “graves, voluntarii,” id. Leg. 3, 20, 47: “firmus verusque,” id. Div. in Caecil. 9, 29 al.: “eundem accusatorem capitis sui ac judicem esse,” Liv. 8, 32, 9: “ita ille imprudens ipse suus fuit accusator,” Nep. Lys. 4, 3: “graviter eos accusat quod, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 1, 16, 5: “accusatores tui,” Vulg. Act. 23, 35; 25, 18 al.—
II. Esp., in silv. age, an informer, a denouncer (= delator): “accusatorum denuntiationes,” Suet. Aug. 66; so Juv. 1, 161.
