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.
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.
To make a false oath to; to deceive by oaths and protestations.
[Obs.]
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.
© Webster 1913.
Per"jure, n. [L. perjurus: cf. OF. parjur, F. parjure.]
A perjured person.
[Obs.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913.