SINCE 1828
lèse-majesté
noun
lèse-ma·jes·té
| \ ˌlāz-ˈma-jə-stē
, ˌlez-, ˌlēz-\
, ˌlez-, ˌlēz-\
variants:
or lese majesty
Definition of lèse-majesté
1a
: a crime (such as treason) committed against a sovereign power
b
: an offense violating the dignity of a ruler as the representative of a sovereign power
2
: a detraction from or affront to dignity or importance
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