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capital offense

A crime, such as murder or betrayal of one's country, that is treated so seriously that death may be considered an appropriate punishment.

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Capital vs. Capitol

Capital and capitol are both commonly used in political contexts and are separated by just one letter, making them frustratingly easy to confuse. When it comes to these two terms, it’s important to note that one has a number of meanings while the other refers to a certain type of building. Capital has many definitions. It can mean “the wealth owned or employed in business …

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.