lese majesty
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lese maj·es·ty
also lèse ma·jes·té (lēz′ măj′ĭ-stē)n. pl. lese maj·es·ties or lèse ma·jes·tés
A crime injuring or causing harm to the dignity of a reigning sovereign or a state.
[Partial translation of French lèse-majesté, from Latin (crīmen) laesae māiestātis, (the crime) of injured majesty : laesae, feminine genitive of laesus, past participle of laedere, to injure + māiestātis, genitive of māiestās, majesty.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
lese′
(or lèse′) maj′esty
(liz)n.
1.
a. a crime, esp. high treason, committed against a monarch or government.
b. an offense that violates the dignity of a ruler.
2. an attack on any custom, institution, belief, etc., held sacred or revered.
[1530–40; < French lèse-majesté < Latin (crīmen) laesae mājestātis (the crime) of injured majesty]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. |  lese majesty - a crime that undermines the offender's governmentcrime, criminal offence, criminal offense, law-breaking, offense, offence - (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes" |
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lese majesty
also lèse majesténoun
Lack of proper respect:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.