lese majesty

2 definitions found

lese majesty - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Lese majesty \Lese` maj"es*ty\, Leze majesty \Leze`
  maj"es*ty\(l[=e]z` m[a^]j"[e^]s*t[y^]) n. [F. lese-majest['e],
     fr. L. laesus, fem. laesa, injured (see Lesion) + majestas
     majesty; that is, crimen laesae majestatis.] [Written also
     l[`e]se majesty.]
     1. (Law) Any crime committed against the sovereign power, or
        against a ruler.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any affront to the dignity of an eminent or respected
        person.
        [PJC]
  
     3. An attack against an institution or custom revered by the
        majority in a society.
        [PJC]

lese majesty - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  lese majesty
      n 1: a crime that undermines the offender's government [syn:
           treason, high treason, lese majesty]