Perjuring

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Perjure \Per"jure\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Perjured}; p. pr. & vb.
     n. {Perjuring}.] [F. parjurer, L. perjurare, perjerare; per
     through, over + jurare to swear. See {Jury}.]
     1. To cause to violate an oath or a vow; to cause to make
        oath knowingly to what is untrue; to make guilty of
        perjury; to forswear; to corrupt; -- often used


        reflexively; as, he perjured himself.
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              Want will perjure
              The ne'er-touched vestal.             --Shak.
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     2. To make a false oath to; to deceive by oaths and
        protestations. [Obs.]
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              And with a virgin innocence did pray
              For me, that perjured her.            --J. Fletcher.
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     Syn: To {Perjure}, {Forswear}.
  
     Usage: These words have been used interchangeably; but there
            is a tendency to restrict perjure to that species of
            forswearing which constitutes the crime of perjury at
            law, namely, the willful violation of an oath
            administered by a magistrate or according to law.
            [1913 Webster]