perpetrate
[pur-pi-treyt]
- to commit: to perpetrate a crime.
- to present, execute, or do in a poor or tasteless manner: Who perpetrated this so-called comedy?
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Origin of perpetrate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for perpetrating
Contemporary Examples
We might start by trying to stem the sale of arms to those who are perpetrating the violence in the first place.
First, can force be used, without Security Council approval, to deter Syria from perpetrating further crimes against humanity?
Little: “So are you saying that these scientists are perpetrating a massive fraud on the global public to get some grant money?”
Historical Examples
It was in keeping with the rest of the nonsense they were perpetrating.
Martian V.F.W.G.L. Vandenburg
His life was devoted to planning and perpetrating the grossest deceptions.
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass
We do not know what a diabolical wickedness we are perpetrating every day.
Bunyan Characters - Third SeriesAlexander Whyte
I have come to prevent you from going, from perpetrating this folly.
The Nabob, Vol. 2 (of 2)Alphonse Daudet
At the time when this atrocity was perpetrating not an officer interfered.
Rattlin the ReeferEdward Howard
perpetrate
- (tr) to perform or be responsible for (a deception, crime, etc)
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin perpetrāre, from per- (thoroughly) + patrāre to perform, perhaps from pater father, leader in the performance of sacred rites
usage
Perpetrate and perpetuate are sometimes confused: he must answer for the crimes he has perpetrated (not perpetuated); the book helped to perpetuate (not perpetrate) some of the myths surrounding his early life
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for perpetrating
perpetrate
v.
1540s, from Latin perpetratus, past participle of perpetrare "to perform, to accomplish," from per- "completely" + patrare "carry out," originally "bring into existence," from pater "father" (see father (n.)). Earlier in English was perpetren, mid-15c., from Old French perpetrer. Neither good nor bad in Latin, first used in English in statutes, hence its sense of "to perform criminally." Related: Perpetrated; perpetrating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper