perjury

Where does the word "perjury" come from? It comes from Latin periurium, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Perjury’s story begins in Latin: periurium meant “a false oath.” A false oath, from per- (thoroughly, wrongly) and iurare (to swear). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as perjurie. Carried into French legal vocabulary for lying under oath. It reached English by 1400s as perjury. Settled as the English word for lying while under legal oath. Today, perjury means the criminal offense of willfully telling an untruth while under oath.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient periurium "a false oath", a false oath, from per- (thoroughly, wrongly) and iurare (to swear).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval perjurie "lying under oath", carried into French legal vocabulary for lying under oath.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s perjury "the act of lying while under oath", settled as the English word for lying while under legal oath.