A formal charge against a person, to the effect that he is guilty of a punishable offense, laid before a court or magistrate having jurisdiction to inquire into the alleged crime. See Accuse. Accusator post rationabile tempus non est audiendus, nisi se bene de omis sione excusaverit. Moore, 817. An accuser ought not to be heard after the expiration of a reasonable time, unless he can account satisfactorily for the delay.