2 uses
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Definition
the criminal offense of telling lies after formally promising to tell the truth — such as when testifying in a court trial
- Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say "ay,"
And I will take thy word. Yet, if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove false. At lovers' perjuries,
They say Jove laughs.2.2 — Act 2 Scene 2 — Capulet's Garden (47% in)
perjuries = lies
(editor's note: Jove is a synonym for Jupiter—the King of the Roman gods. "At lovers perjuries they say Jove laughs." references an at-the-time well-known line from Ovid, "Jupiter from on high smiles at the perjuries of lovers.". Ovid was a famous Roman poet.)
(editor's note: Jove is a synonym for Jupiter—the King of the Roman gods. "At lovers perjuries they say Jove laughs." references an at-the-time well-known line from Ovid, "Jupiter from on high smiles at the perjuries of lovers.". Ovid was a famous Roman poet.)
- Thy dear love sworn, but hollow perjury,3.3 — Act 3 Scene 3 — Friar Lawrence's cell (74% in)
perjury = lie (something that is not true)
(editor's note: It might be easier to read this as "but a hollow perjury.")
(editor's note: It might be easier to read this as "but a hollow perjury.")
There are no more uses of "perjury" in Romeo and Juliet.
Typical Usage
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