PERJURE

perjure. Perjure, v.t. to swear, to take a false oath

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Per″jure (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perjured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perjuring.] [[F. parjurer, L. perjurare, perjerare; per through, over + jurare to swear. See Jury.]] 1. 1. To cause to violate an oath or a vow; to cause to make oath knowingly to what is untrue; to make guilty of perjury; to forswear; to corrupt; — often used reflexively; as, he perjured himself.
Want will perjure The ne'er-touched vestal. Shak. 2. 2. To make a false oath to; to deceive by oaths and protestations.
And with a virgin innocence did pray For me, that perjured her. J. Fletcher. Syn. — To Perjure, Forswear. These words have been used interchangeably; but there is a tendency to restrict perjure to that species of forswearing which constitutes the crime of perjury at law, namely, the willful violation of an oath administered by a magistrate or according to law.