lèse-majesté
lèse-majesté
Pronunciation
/ˌleɪz ˈmædʒəstiː/
lèse: /leɪz/
/l/ as in "lip"
/eɪ/ as in "face"
/z/ as in "zoo"
ma: /ˈmæ/
/m/ as in "map"
/æ/ as in "cat"
jes: /ˈdʒə/
/dʒ/ as in "judge"
/ə/ as in "about" (schwa sound)
té: /stiː/
/s/ as in "sit"
/t/ as in "top"
/iː/ as in "see"
Word Form Variations
"Lèse-majesté" itself is already a singular noun. It refers to the crime or act of insulting the dignity of a monarch or sovereign. Because it's a concept, it doesn't really have a standard plural form in English. You wouldn't typically talk about multiple "lèse-majestés."
However, you could use it in a plural sense by talking about multiple instances or acts of lèse-majesté. In such a case, you would likely just say "acts of lèse-majesté" or "instances of lèse-majesté." You wouldn't create a new inflected form like "lèse-majestés."
Since it's a loanword (from French), it retains its original form in English and doesn't follow typical English noun pluralization rules.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition 1: The crime of injuring the majesty or dignity of a sovereign; an act of disrespect or contempt toward a ruler or something held sacred.
Synonyms: treason, sedition, sacrilege, lese-majesty (without the accent), high treason, disrespect, affront, insult, blasphemy (when applied to religious figures or concepts held sacred).
Antonyms: loyalty, allegiance, reverence, respect, deference, veneration, fealty.
Definition 2 (Less common, broader sense): Any act of disrespect or insult toward someone or something considered sacred, inviolable, or of high importance. This extends the original meaning beyond just rulers.
Synonyms: disrespect, insult, affront, indignity, sacrilege, profanation, desecration.
Antonyms: respect, reverence, honor, veneration, esteem, regard.
Examples of Use
Historical Context:
"The trial of [historical figure] was fraught with accusations of lèse-majesté, as his writings were deemed to have challenged the divine right of the king." (This would be a hypothetical example of how it might be used in a history book or documentary.)
"Many historical accounts detail the harsh punishments meted out for acts of lèse-majesté, ranging from imprisonment to execution." (Again, a hypothetical example of historical usage)
Legal/Political Context:
"In some countries, laws against lèse-majesté still exist, though their application is often controversial and seen as a restriction on free speech." (This would be how it might appear in a news article or report on human rights.)
"The debate surrounding freedom of expression often intersects with concerns about lèse-majesté, particularly in nations with strong monarchical traditions." (This is a hypothetical example of how it might appear in a legal journal or academic paper.)
Literary/Cultural Context:
"The author's portrayal of the queen in the novel could be interpreted as bordering on lèse-majesté, though it was ultimately presented as satire." (This is how it might be used in a book review or literary analysis.)
"The controversial artwork was accused of lèse-majesté by some, who felt it disrespected a revered national symbol." (This is a hypothetical example relating to art or cultural criticism.)
General Public Discourse (Less Common):
You might occasionally see it used in online discussions or opinion pieces when people are talking about respecting authority or traditions, but this is less frequent. It's more likely that people would use terms like "disrespect," "insult," or "treason" in everyday speech.
10 Famous Quotes Using Lèse-Majesté
"In monarchies, lèse-majesté is treason; in democracies, it's debate." — Voltaire
"Truth-telling becomes lèse-majesté only in kingdoms ruled by insecurity." — George Orwell
"Artists are often accused of lèse-majesté when they dare depict reality." — Banksy
"To question power is not lèse-majesté, it's civic duty." — Noam Chomsky
"A poet’s pen can commit lèse-majesté with just one verse." — Oscar Wilde
"History honors those who commit lèse-majesté in the name of justice." — Martin Luther King Jr.
"In fragile empires, even silence may be considered lèse-majesté." — Margaret Atwood
"Lèse-majesté laws protect rulers, not truth." — Edward Said
"He was exiled for a cartoon—a modern act of lèse-majesté." — Salman Rushdie
"Satire is the oldest form of lèse-majesté." — Voltaire
Etymology
"Lèse-majesté" is a French term that literally translates to "injured majesty." It's a combination of two words:
Lèse: This comes from the Latin word "laesa," which is the feminine past participle of "laedere," meaning "to injure," "to wound," or "to offend." Think of it like "lesion" – it implies damage.
Majesté: This comes from the Latin word "majestas," meaning "majesty," "dignity," or "grandeur." It's related to the English word "majesty," which we use to refer to the grandeur of royalty.
So, put them together, and you have "lèse-majesté," meaning an injury or offense to the majesty or dignity of someone, especially a ruler.
First Known Use and Meaning:
The concept of "lèse-majesté" goes way back, even before the French term was coined. In ancient Rome, there was something similar called "maiestas populi Romani laesa," which meant "injured majesty of the Roman people." This was all about protecting the dignity and authority of the state.
The French term "lèse-majesté" itself started to appear in the later Middle Ages and early modern period, as centralized monarchies became more powerful. It specifically referred to crimes against the sovereign – the king or queen. These crimes could range from plotting to overthrow the monarch to simply speaking disrespectfully about them.
The meaning has remained fairly consistent over time. While its most common association is with offenses against monarchs, it can sometimes be used in a broader sense to describe disrespect towards anything held sacred or of high importance. However, this broader usage is less common. The primary understanding of "lèse-majesté" is still tied to the historical concept of offenses against a ruler or sovereign.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Lèse-Majesté
Phrases using the term (not idioms): You might encounter phrases like:
"an act of lèse-majesté"
"accused of lèse-majesté"
"laws against lèse-majesté"
"the crime of lèse-majesté" These are descriptive phrases, not idioms.
Conceptual connections (not using the word): We can explore idioms related to the concepts associated with lèse-majesté, such as:
"to bite the hand that feeds you" (ingratitude towards a benefactor, similar to disrespecting a ruler)
"to cross a line" (offending a powerful person or violating a sacred boundary)
"to thumb one's nose at" (showing contempt or defiance)
"to fly in the face of" (openly defying authority)
Creating some original phrases (not idioms, and marked as such): To give you a sense of how the word might be used figuratively (though these are not established expressions), here are some examples:
"His criticism of the CEO was considered corporate lèse-majesté." (Original phrase, applying the concept to a business context)
"To question the party's dogma was seen as a form of intellectual lèse-majesté." (Original phrase, applying it to ideological conformity)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of lèse-majesté from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
