lese majesty
[ leez-maj-uh-stee, lez ]
/ ˈliz ˈmædʒ ə sti, ˈlɛz /
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noun
Law.
- a crime, especially high treason, committed against the sovereign power.
- an offense that violates the dignity of a ruler.
an attack on any custom, institution, belief, etc., held sacred or revered by numbers of people: Her speech against Mother's Day was criticized as lese majesty.
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Also lèse maj·es·ty, lèse maj·es·té [lez-mah-juh-stey; lez-maj-uh-stee, leez-maj-uh-stee]. /ˈlɛz ˈmɑ dʒəˈsteɪ; ˈlɛz ˈmædʒ ə sti, ˈliz ˈmædʒ ə sti/.
Origin of lese majesty
First recorded in 1450–1500 in spelling lese mageste; current spelling dates from 1785–80; partial translation of Anglo-French, Middle French lese majesté, leze magesté, from Latin (crīmen) laesae mājestātis “(the crime) of injured majesty” (originally against the Roman people, later against the emperor)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use lese majesty in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for lese majesty
lese-majesty
/ (ˈliːzˈmædʒɪstɪ) /
noun
any of various offences committed against the sovereign power in a state; treason
an attack on authority or position
Word Origin for lese-majesty
C16: from French lèse majesté, from Latin laesa mājestās wounded majesty
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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