Main Entry:

per·pe·trate

Pronunciation:

\ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

per·pe·trat·ed; per·pe·trat·ing

Etymology:

Latin perpetratus, past participle of perpetrare, from per- through + patrare to accomplish, from pater father — more at father

Date:

1537

1 : to bring about or carry out (as a crime or deception) : commit 2 : to produce, perform, or execute (something likened to a crime) <perpetrate a pun>

— per·pe·tra·tion \ˌpər-pə-ˈtrā-shən\ noun

— per·pe·tra·tor \ˈpər-pə-ˌtrā-tər\ noun