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.

Want will perjure The ne'er-touched vestal. Shak.

2.

To make a false oath to; to deceive by oaths and protestations.

[Obs.]

And with a virgin innocence did pray For me, that perjured her. J. Fletcher.

Syn. -- To Perjure, Forswear. 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.

 

© Webster 1913.


Per"jure, n. [L. perjurus: cf. OF. parjur, F. parjure.]

A perjured person.

[Obs.]

Shak.

 

© Webster 1913.

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