View synonyms for lese majesty

lese majesty

[ leez maj-uh-stee, lez ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Law.
1. a crime, especially high treason, committed against the sovereign power.
2. an offense that violates the dignity of a ruler.
an attack on any custom, institution, belief, etc., held sacred or revered by numbers of people:
Her speech against Mother's Day was criticized as lese majesty.

lese-majesty

/ ˈliːzˈmædʒɪstɪ /

noun

any of various offences committed against the sovereign power in a state; treason
an attack on authority or position

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Word History and Origins

Origin of lese majesty¹

First recorded in 1450–1500 in spelling lese mageste; current spelling dates from 1785–80; partial translation of Anglo-French, Middle French lese majesté, leze magesté, from Latin (crīmen) laesae mājestātis “(the crime) of injured majesty” (originally against the Roman people, later against the emperor)

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Word History and Origins

Origin of lese majesty¹

C16: from French lèse majesté, from Latin laesa mājestās wounded majesty

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