perjury
Meaning
the crime of telling a lie in a court of law after promising to tell the truth
Structure
Usage
the witness was charged with perjury after his testimony was proven false.
lying under oath in court is a serious offense known as perjury.
the prosecutor argued that the defendant's contradictory statements amounted to perjury.
Etymology
the word 'perjury' has a direct lineage from latin, entering english via anglo-norman and old french. its core components are the latin prefix 'per-', which here conveys a sense of deviation or corruption, and the root 'iur-', relating to law and oath-taking. literally, it meant "to swear thoroughly" but evolved to specifically mean "to swear falsely," capturing the act of corrupting the sacred oath of truth-telling. the modern abstract meaning retains this precise legal focus, defining the criminal act of willfully lying under oath.
Analysis
per: from latin 'per-', a prefix meaning "through, thoroughly, to ill effect". jur: from latin 'iurare', meaning "to swear, to take an oath". y: a noun-forming suffix of latin origin via old french '-ie', indicating a state, condition, or action.