perjure

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to knowingly make a false statement under oath and thereby commit perjury, usually used reflexively

   The witness would perjure herself if she repeated the claim under oath.

2. 2
   verb

   to cause someone to violate an oath or swear falsely; now rare

   The conspirators tried to perjure the official by forcing him to swear to a false account.

From Old French parjurer and Latin periurare, 'to swear falsely,' formed from per- in a sense of wrongdoing and iurare, 'to swear,' from ius or iuris, 'law or right.'

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