Search Result for "charge": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (15)

1. an impetuous rush toward someone or something;
- Example: "the wrestler's charge carried him past his adversary"
- Example: "the battle began with a cavalry charge"

2. (criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense;
- Example: "he was arrested on a charge of larceny"
[syn: charge, complaint]

3. the price charged for some article or service;
- Example: "the admission charge"

4. the quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body (either positive or negative) and construed as an excess or deficiency of electrons;
- Example: "the battery needed a fresh charge"
[syn: charge, electric charge]

5. attention and management implying responsibility for safety;
- Example: "he is in the care of a bodyguard"
[syn: care, charge, tutelage, guardianship]

6. a special assignment that is given to a person or group;
- Example: "a confidential mission to London"
- Example: "his charge was deliver a message"
[syn: mission, charge, commission]

7. a person committed to your care;
- Example: "the teacher led her charges across the street"

8. financial liabilities (such as a tax);
- Example: "the charges against the estate"

9. (psychoanalysis) the libidinal energy invested in some idea or person or object;
- Example: "Freud thought of cathexis as a psychic analog of an electrical charge"
[syn: cathexis, charge]

10. the swift release of a store of affective force;
- Example: "they got a great bang out of it"
- Example: "what a boot!"
- Example: "he got a quick rush from injecting heroin"
- Example: "he does it for kicks"
[syn: bang, boot, charge, rush, flush, thrill, kick]

11. request for payment of a debt;
- Example: "they submitted their charges at the end of each month"
[syn: charge, billing]

12. a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something;
- Example: "the judge's charge to the jury"
[syn: commission, charge, direction]

13. an assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence;
- Example: "the newspaper published charges that Jones was guilty of drunken driving"
[syn: accusation, charge]

14. heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield;
[syn: charge, bearing, heraldic bearing, armorial bearing]

15. a quantity of explosive to be set off at one time;
- Example: "this cartridge has a powder charge of 50 grains"
[syn: charge, burster, bursting charge, explosive charge]


VERB (25)

1. to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle;
- Example: "he saw Jess charging at him with a pitchfork"
[syn: charge, bear down]

2. blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against;
- Example: "he charged the director with indifference"
[syn: charge, accuse]

3. demand payment;
- Example: "Will I get charged for this service?"
- Example: "We were billed for 4 nights in the hotel, although we stayed only 3 nights"
[syn: charge, bill]

4. move quickly and violently;
- Example: "The car tore down the street"
- Example: "He came charging into my office"
[syn: tear, shoot, shoot down, charge, buck]

5. assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to;
- Example: "He was appointed deputy manager"
- Example: "She was charged with supervising the creation of a concordance"
[syn: appoint, charge]

6. file a formal charge against;
- Example: "The suspect was charged with murdering his wife"
[syn: charge, lodge, file]

7. make an accusatory claim;
- Example: "The defense attorney charged that the jurors were biased"

8. fill or load to capacity;
- Example: "charge the wagon with hay"

9. enter a certain amount as a charge;
- Example: "he charged me $15"

10. cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution;
- Example: "After the second episode, she had to be committed"
- Example: "he was committed to prison"
[syn: commit, institutionalize, institutionalise, send, charge]

11. give over to another for care or safekeeping;
- Example: "consign your baggage"
[syn: consign, charge]

12. pay with a credit card; pay with plastic money; postpone payment by recording a purchase as a debt;
- Example: "Will you pay cash or charge the purchase?"

13. lie down on command, of hunting dogs;

14. cause to be agitated, excited, or roused;
- Example: "The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks"
[syn: agitate, rouse, turn on, charge, commove, excite, charge up]

15. place a heraldic bearing on;
- Example: "charge all weapons, shields, and banners"

16. provide (a device) with something necessary;
- Example: "He loaded his gun carefully"
- Example: "load the camera"
[syn: load, charge]

17. direct into a position for use;
- Example: "point a gun"
- Example: "He charged his weapon at me"
[syn: charge, level, point]

18. impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to;
- Example: "He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend"
[syn: charge, saddle, burden]

19. instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence;

20. instruct or command with authority;
- Example: "The teacher charged the children to memorize the poem"

21. attribute responsibility to;
- Example: "We blamed the accident on her"
- Example: "The tragedy was charged to her inexperience"
[syn: blame, charge]

22. set or ask for a certain price;
- Example: "How much do you charge for lunch?"
- Example: "This fellow charges $100 for a massage"

23. cause formation of a net electrical charge in or on;
- Example: "charge a conductor"

24. energize a battery by passing a current through it in the direction opposite to discharge;
- Example: "I need to charge my car battery"

25. saturate;
- Example: "The room was charged with tension and anxiety"


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Charge \Charge\ (ch[aum]rj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charged (ch[aum]rjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Charging.] [OF. chargier, F. charger, fr. LL. carricare, fr. L. carrus wagon. Cf. Cargo, Caricature, Cark, and see Car.] 1. To lay on or impose, as a load, tax, or burden; to load; to fill. [1913 Webster] A carte that charged was with hay. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] The charging of children's memories with rules. --Locke. [1913 Webster] 2. To lay on or impose, as a task, duty, or trust; to command, instruct, or exhort with authority; to enjoin; to urge earnestly; as, to charge a jury; to charge the clergy of a diocese; to charge an agent. [1913 Webster] Moses . . . charged you to love the Lord your God. --Josh. xxii. 5. [1913 Webster] Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. To lay on, impose, or make subject to or liable for. [1913 Webster] When land shall be charged by any lien. --Kent. [1913 Webster] 4. To fix or demand as a price; as, he charges two dollars a barrel for apples. [1913 Webster] 5. To place something to the account of as a debt; to debit, as, to charge one with goods. Also, to enter upon the debit side of an account; as, to charge a sum to one. [1913 Webster] 6. To impute or ascribe; to lay to one's charge. [1913 Webster] No more accuse thy pen, but charge the crime On native sloth and negligence of time. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 7. To accuse; to make a charge or assertion against (a person or thing); to lay the responsibility (for something said or done) at the door of. [1913 Webster] If he did that wrong you charge him with. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster] 8. To place within or upon any firearm, piece of apparatus or machinery, the quantity it is intended and fitted to hold or bear; to load; to fill; as, to charge a gun; to charge an electrical machine, etc. [1913 Webster] Their battering cannon charged to the mouths. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 9. To ornament with or cause to bear; as, to charge an architectural member with a molding. [1913 Webster] 10. (Her.) To assume as a bearing; as, he charges three roses or; to add to or represent on; as, he charges his shield with three roses or. [1913 Webster] 11. To call to account; to challenge. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] To charge me to an answer. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 12. To bear down upon; to rush upon; to attack. [1913 Webster] Charged our main battle's front. --Shak. Syn: To intrust; command; exhort; instruct; accuse; impeach; arraign. See Accuse. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Charge \Charge\, n. [F. charge, fr. charger to load. See Charge, v. t., and cf. Cargo, Caricature.] 1. A load or burder laid upon a person or thing. [1913 Webster] 2. A person or thing commited or intrusted to the care, custody, or management of another; a trust. [1913 Webster] Note: The people of a parish or church are called the charge of the clergyman who is set over them. [1913 Webster] 3. Custody or care of any person, thing, or place; office; responsibility; oversight; obigation; duty. [1913 Webster] 'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 4. Heed; care; anxiety; trouble. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 5. Harm. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 6. An order; a mandate or command; an injunction. [1913 Webster] The king gave cherge concerning Absalom. --2. Sam. xviii. 5. [1913 Webster] 7. An address (esp. an earnest or impressive address) containing instruction or exhortation; as, the charge of a judge to a jury; the charge of a bishop to his clergy. [1913 Webster] 8. An accusation of a wrong of offense; allegation; indictment; specification of something alleged. [1913 Webster] The charge of confounding very different classes of phenomena. --Whewell. [1913 Webster] 9. Whatever constitutes a burden on property, as rents, taxes, lines, etc.; costs; expense incurred; -- usually in the plural. [1913 Webster] 10. The price demanded for a thing or service. [1913 Webster] 11. An entry or a account of that which is due from one party to another; that which is debited in a business transaction; as, a charge in an account book. [1913 Webster] 12. That quantity, as of ammunition, electricity, ore, fuel, etc., which any apparatus, as a gun, battery, furnace, machine, etc., is intended to receive and fitted to hold, or which is actually in it at one time [1913 Webster] 13. The act of rushing upon, or towards, an enemy; a sudden onset or attack, as of troops, esp. cavalry; hence, the signal for attack; as, to sound the charge. [1913 Webster] Never, in any other war afore, gave the Romans a hotter charge upon the enemies. --Holland. [1913 Webster] The charge of the light brigade. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster] 14. A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack; as, to bring a weapon to the charge. [1913 Webster] 15. (Far.) A sort of plaster or ointment. [1913 Webster] 16. (Her.) A bearing. See Bearing, n., 8. [1913 Webster] 17. [Cf. Charre.] Thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; -- called also charre. [1913 Webster] 18. Weight; import; value. [1913 Webster] Many suchlike "as's" of great charge. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Back charge. See under Back, a. Bursting charge. (a) (Mil.) The charge which bursts a shell, etc. (b) (Mining) A small quantity of fine powder to secure the ignition of a charge of coarse powder in blasting. Charge and discharge (Equity Practice), the old mode or form of taking an account before a master in chancery. Charge sheet, the paper on which are entered at a police station all arrests and accusations. To sound the charge, to give the signal for an attack. Syn: Care; custody; trust; management; office; expense; cost; price; assault; attack; onset; injunction; command; order; mandate; instruction; accusation; indictment. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Charge \Charge\, v. i. 1. To make an onset or rush; as, to charge with fixed bayonets. [1913 Webster] Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron. --Glanvill. [1913 Webster] "Charge for the guns!" he said. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster] 2. To demand a price; as, to charge high for goods. [1913 Webster] 3. To debit on an account; as, to charge for purchases. [1913 Webster] 4. To squat on its belly and be still; -- a command given by a sportsman to a dog. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

charge n 1: an impetuous rush toward someone or something; "the wrestler's charge carried him past his adversary"; "the battle began with a cavalry charge" 2: (criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense; "he was arrested on a charge of larceny" [syn: charge, complaint] 3: the price charged for some article or service; "the admission charge" 4: the quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body (either positive or negative) and construed as an excess or deficiency of electrons; "the battery needed a fresh charge" [syn: charge, electric charge] 5: attention and management implying responsibility for safety; "he is in the care of a bodyguard" [syn: care, charge, tutelage, guardianship] 6: a special assignment that is given to a person or group; "a confidential mission to London"; "his charge was deliver a message" [syn: mission, charge, commission] 7: a person committed to your care; "the teacher led her charges across the street" 8: financial liabilities (such as a tax); "the charges against the estate" 9: (psychoanalysis) the libidinal energy invested in some idea or person or object; "Freud thought of cathexis as a psychic analog of an electrical charge" [syn: cathexis, charge] 10: the swift release of a store of affective force; "they got a great bang out of it"; "what a boot!"; "he got a quick rush from injecting heroin"; "he does it for kicks" [syn: bang, boot, charge, rush, flush, thrill, kick] 11: request for payment of a debt; "they submitted their charges at the end of each month" [syn: charge, billing] 12: a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something; "the judge's charge to the jury" [syn: commission, charge, direction] 13: an assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence; "the newspaper published charges that Jones was guilty of drunken driving" [syn: accusation, charge] 14: heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield [syn: charge, bearing, heraldic bearing, armorial bearing] 15: a quantity of explosive to be set off at one time; "this cartridge has a powder charge of 50 grains" [syn: charge, burster, bursting charge, explosive charge] v 1: to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle; "he saw Jess charging at him with a pitchfork" [syn: charge, bear down] 2: blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against; "he charged the director with indifference" [syn: charge, accuse] 3: demand payment; "Will I get charged for this service?"; "We were billed for 4 nights in the hotel, although we stayed only 3 nights" [syn: charge, bill] 4: move quickly and violently; "The car tore down the street"; "He came charging into my office" [syn: tear, shoot, shoot down, charge, buck] 5: assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to; "He was appointed deputy manager"; "She was charged with supervising the creation of a concordance" [syn: appoint, charge] 6: file a formal charge against; "The suspect was charged with murdering his wife" [syn: charge, lodge, file] 7: make an accusatory claim; "The defense attorney charged that the jurors were biased" 8: fill or load to capacity; "charge the wagon with hay" [ant: discharge] 9: enter a certain amount as a charge; "he charged me $15" 10: cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution; "After the second episode, she had to be committed"; "he was committed to prison" [syn: commit, institutionalize, institutionalise, send, charge] 11: give over to another for care or safekeeping; "consign your baggage" [syn: consign, charge] 12: pay with a credit card; pay with plastic money; postpone payment by recording a purchase as a debt; "Will you pay cash or charge the purchase?" [ant: pay cash] 13: lie down on command, of hunting dogs 14: cause to be agitated, excited, or roused; "The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks" [syn: agitate, rouse, turn on, charge, commove, excite, charge up] [ant: calm, calm down, lull, quiet, quieten, still, tranquilize, tranquillise, tranquillize] 15: place a heraldic bearing on; "charge all weapons, shields, and banners" 16: provide (a device) with something necessary; "He loaded his gun carefully"; "load the camera" [syn: load, charge] 17: direct into a position for use; "point a gun"; "He charged his weapon at me" [syn: charge, level, point] 18: impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to; "He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend" [syn: charge, saddle, burden] 19: instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence 20: instruct or command with authority; "The teacher charged the children to memorize the poem" 21: attribute responsibility to; "We blamed the accident on her"; "The tragedy was charged to her inexperience" [syn: blame, charge] 22: set or ask for a certain price; "How much do you charge for lunch?"; "This fellow charges $100 for a massage" 23: cause formation of a net electrical charge in or on; "charge a conductor" 24: energize a battery by passing a current through it in the direction opposite to discharge; "I need to charge my car battery" 25: saturate; "The room was charged with tension and anxiety"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

878 Moby Thesaurus words for "charge": accountability, accounting for, accounts payable, accounts receivable, accredit, accusal, accusation, accuse, accusing, achievement, action, activate, adjure, administration, admission, admission fee, admonish, advowson, afflict, agency, agentship, aggravated assault, aggression, alerion, allegation, allege, allegement, allegiance, amount, amount due, amperage, amphibious attack, amplify, anchorage, animal charge, annulet, answerability, anticathexis, application, argent, armed assault, armipotence, armorial bearings, armory, arms, arraign, arraignment, arrogation, article, ascription, ask, assail, assailing, assailment, assault, assert, assess, assessment, assign, assignation, assigned task, assignment, attachment, attack, attribute, attribution, auspices, authority, authorization, authorize, azure, bad debts, bail, bale, bandeau, bang, banzai attack, bar, bar sinister, baton, bear hard upon, bearings, beef, behest, bellyful, bend, bend sinister, benefice, bid, bidding, bill, bill of particulars, billet, bills, black power, blame, blast, blazon, blazonry, blitz, blitzkrieg, boil, bolt, book, boot, bordure, borrowing, bossing, bounden duty, breakthrough, brevet, brim, bring accusation, bring charges, bring to book, bringing of charges, bringing to book, broad arrow, brokerage, brute force, budget, budget items, bumper, burden, burden of expenditure, burden with, burdening, burthen, business, busywork, buy on credit, cadency mark, call of duty, call on, call the signals, call upon, canton, capacity, care, care of souls, carfare, cargo, carload, carrying charge, cartload, cathectic energy, cathexis, caution, cellarage, censure, chaplet, chare, charge for, charges, charging, charisma, charter, chase, chevron, chief, chits, chock, choke, chore, cite, claim, client, clog, clout, coat of arms, cock, cockatrice, cogence, cogency, command, commission, commissioning, commit, commitment, committal, complain, complaint, complement, compulsion, concern, conduct, congest, connection with, consign, consignment, contaminate, control, coronet, cost, cost of living, cost-of-living allowance, cost-of-living index, costs, count, counterattack, countercathexis, counteroffensive, coup de main, cover charge, cram, credit, crescent, crest, criminate, crippling attack, cross, cross moline, crowd, crown, crush, cumber, cumbrance, curacy, cure, custodianship, custody, damage, dash, dash at, dead set at, deadweight, debit, debt, declare, decree, dedication, deference, delation, delegate, delegated authority, delegation, demand, denounce, denouncement, denunciate, denunciation, dependent, deputation, depute, deputize, derivation from, descent on, desire concentration, detach, detail, detonate, device, devoir, devolute, devolution, devolve, devolve upon, devolvement, devotion, dictate, difference, differencing, difficulty, dint, direct, direct costs, direction, disadvantage, disbursals, discharge, distributed costs, diversion, diversionary attack, dockage, drag, drive, drop, due, dues, duress, duties and responsibilities, duty, eagle, effect, effectiveness, effectuality, eject, electric charge, electrify, embarrassment, embassy, empower, empowerment, encourage, encumber, encumbrance, energize, energy, energy charge, enjoin, entrance fee, entrust, entrusting, entrustment, ermine, ermines, erminites, erminois, errand, escutcheon, ethics, etiology, exact, exaction, exactment, executorship, exequatur, exercise, exhaust, exhort, exhortation, expect, expenditure, expense, expense account, expenses, expostulate, eye, factorship, falcon, fare, fasten on, fasten upon, fealty, fee, fell, fess, fess point, field, figure, file, fill, fill to overflowing, fill up, financial commitment, finger, fire, fire off, fish to fry, flanch, flank attack, fleur-de-lis, fling, floating debt, flower power, flush, fly at, foray, force, force majeure, forcefulness, freight, freight with, fret, frontal attack, fuel, full blast, full force, full house, full measure, full power, funded debt, fur, fusil, galvanize, garland, gas attack, general expenses, generate, get up steam, give an order, give in charge, give the word, glebe, go on tick, governance, government, griffin, guardianship, guarding, guidance, gules, gun, gun for, gyron, hamper, handicap, handling, hands, hang something on, hatchment, head-on attack, heap, helmet, heraldic device, hire, hit, hold, homage, homework, honor, honor point, hypercathexis, imbue, impalement, impaling, impeach, impeachment, impediment, impedimenta, imperative, implication, imply, impose, impose on, impose upon, imposition, impregnate, impugn, imputation, impute, incite, inconvenience, incriminate, incubus, inculpate, incumbency, indebtedness, indebtment, indict, indictment, indirect costs, induce, inescutcheon, infect, infiltration, inflict on, inflict upon, influence, inform against, inform on, information, injunction, innuendo, insinuate, insinuation, instruct, instruction, intendance, interpenetrate, invoice, irradiate, issue a command, issue a writ, jam, jam up, jam-pack, jet propulsion, job, job of work, jollies, jump off, jurisdiction, keep, keeping, kick, label, labor, labor costs, lade, lading, lash, lawsuit, lay, lay charges, lay on, laying of charges, legation, let fly, let off, levy, liabilities, liability, license, license fee, lieutenancy, lift, lightning attack, lightning war, line of duty, lion, liquid oxygen, live wire, living, load, loading, lodge a complaint, lodge a plaint, loop in, loyalty, lozenge, lumber, main force, main strength, make dutiable, make-work, mana, management, mandate, mantling, marshaling, martlet, mascle, mass attack, material costs, matters in hand, maturity, megadeath, metal, might, might and main, mightiness, millstone, ministry, mission, motto, mouthful, move, moxie, mugging, mullet, muscle power, must, name, national debt, need, nombril point, obligation, octofoil, odd job, offense, offensive, office, onset, onslaught, onus, operating costs, operating expense, oppress, oppression, or, ordain, order, order about, ordinary, orle, ought, outstanding debt, overburden, overcharge, overfill, overhead, overkill, overload, oversight, overtax, overtaxing, overweight, overweighting, pack, pad, palaetiology, pale, paly, panzer warfare, pastorage, pastorate, pastorship, patronage, payload, pean, pelt, penalty, penetrate, pensionary, pensioner, pepper, percolate, permeate, persuade, pervade, pheon, pick off, piece of work, pile, pilotage, pin on, pistol, pizzazz, place, placement, plaint, pledge, plenipotentiary power, plug, plug in, poison, poop, portage, post, pot, potence, potency, potentiality, potshoot, potshot, power, power of attorney, power pack, power structure, power struggle, power to act, powerfulness, preach, precept, prefer charges, prelacy, prepotency, prescript, prescription, presentment, press charges, press hard upon, pressure, preventive custody, price, price tag, prime, prime cost, pro rata, proclaim, procuration, productiveness, productivity, project, prompt, promulgate, pronounce, propellant, propulsion charge, prorate, prosecution, protection, protective custody, protectorship, protege, proxy, public charge, public debt, puissance, pull, punch, purpure, purview, push, put, put down, put on, put on report, put upon, quarter, quartering, quiver, race, radiumize, raid, ram in, rate, reaction propulsion, receive credit, rectory, refer, reference to, regency, regentship, remonstrate, replacement cost, report, reprehend, reproach, request, require, respect, responsibility, rest hard upon, riddle, right, rocket propulsion, rose, rule, run against, run at, running, rush, rush at, rush of emotion, sable, saddle, saddle with, saddling, safe hands, safekeeping, sally, saltire, salvage, satiate, saturate, say the word, score, scot, scot and lot, scutcheon, self-imposed duty, send out, sensation, service, set, shield, shipload, shiver, shock, shock tactics, shoot, shoot at, shoot down, short, short-circuit, shot, shudder, sinew, snipe, snootful, solicit, sortie, spread eagle, steam, steam up, step down, step up, stewardship, stick for, stiffen, stint, storage, storm, strength, strike, strong arm, stuff, subject to, subordinary, suffuse, suit, supercharge, superincumbency, superintendence, superintendency, superiority, superpower, supervision, surcharge, surfeit, surge of emotion, surveillance, swindle sheet, switch off, switch on, tab, take a potshot, take credit, take to task, tariff, task, taunt with, tax, taxing, teaching, tear, tell, tenne, things to do, thrill, thrust, tilt at, tincture, tingle, tingling, tithe, titillation, toll, top off, torpedo, torse, towage, trailerload, trainload, transfer, transfuse, tremor, tremor of excitement, tressure, trouble, truckload, true bill, trust, trusteeship, turn off, turn on, tutelage, twit, uncollectibles, unfulfilled pledge, unicorn, unit cost, unit quantity, unprovoked assault, unspoken accusation, urge, vair, validity, vanload, vehemence, veiled accusation, vert, vicarage, vicarious authority, vigor, vim, virility, virtue, virulence, vitality, wad, ward, wardenship, wardship, warhead, warm up, warn, warrant, watch and ward, wattage, weigh, weigh heavy on, weigh on, weigh upon, weight, weight down with, wharfage, white elephant, wind, wind up, wing, word, work, wreath, yale, yoke with
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CHARGE, contracts. An obligation entered into by the owner of an estate which makes the estate responsible for its performance. Vide 2 Ball & Beatty, 223; 8 Com. Dig. 306, Appendix, h.t. Any obligation binding upon him who enters into it, which may be removed or taken away by a discharge. T. de la Ley, h.t. 2. That particular kind of commission which one undertakes to perform for another, in keeping the custody of his goods, is called a charge.
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CHARGES. The term charges signifies the expenses which have been incurred in relation either to a transaction or to a suit; as the charges incurred for his benefit must be paid by a hirer; the defendant must pay the charges of a suit. The term charges, in relation to actions, includes something more than the costs, technically called.
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CHARGE. wills, devises. An obligation which a testator imposes on his devisee; as, if the testator give Peter, Blackacre, and direct that he shall pay to John during his life an annuity of one hundred dollars, which shall be a charge" on said land; or if a legacy be and directed to be paid out of the real property. 1 Rop. Leg. 446. Vide 4 Vin. Ab. 449; 1 Supp. to Ves. jr. 309; 2 Id. 31; 1 Vern. 45, 411; 1 Swanst. 28; 4 East, R. 501; 4 Ves. jr. 815; Domat, Loix Civ. liv. 3, t. 1, s. 8, n.
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CHARGE, practice. The opinion expressed by the court to the jury, on the law arising out of a case before them. 2. It should contain a clear and explicit exposition of the law, when the points of the law in dispute arise out of the facts proved on the trial of the cause; 10 Pet. 657; but the court ought at no time to undertake to decide the facts, for these are to be decided by the jury. 4 Rawle's R. 195; 2 Penna. R. 27; 4 Rawle's R. 356 Id. 100; 2 Serg. & Rawle, 464; 1 Serg. & Rawle, 515; 8 Serg. & Rawle, 150. See 3 Cranch, 298; 6 Pet. 622 1 Gall. R. 53; 5 Cranch, 187; 2 Pet. 625; 9 Pet. 541.