perjure

[ pur-jer ]
See synonyms for: perjureperjuredperjurer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),per·jured, per·jur·ing.
  1. to render (oneself) guilty of swearing falsely or of willfully making a false statement under oath or solemn affirmation: The witness perjured herself when she denied knowing the defendant.

Origin of perjure

1
First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin perjūrāre “to swear falsely,” from per- “through,” i.e., “beyond the limits” (see per-) + jūrāre “to swear,” literally, “to be at law” (derivative of jūs jus1)

Other words from perjure

  • per·jure·ment, noun
  • per·jur·er, noun
  • un·per·jur·ing, adjective

Words Nearby perjure

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use perjure in a sentence

  • And so am I,” thought Tresham, who stood in the rear, “—that he will perjure himself.

    Guy Fawkes | William Harrison Ainsworth

British Dictionary definitions for perjure

perjure

/ (ˈpɜːdʒə) /


verb
  1. (tr) criminal law to render (oneself) guilty of perjury

Origin of perjure

1
C15: from Old French parjurer, from Latin perjūrāre, from per- + jūrāre to make an oath, from jūs law

Derived forms of perjure

  • perjurer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012