Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Crime
Crime
(krīm)
, Noun.
[F.
crime
, fr. L. crimen
judicial decision, that which is subjected to such a decision, charge, fault, crime, fr. the root of cernere
to decide judicially. See Certain
.] 1.
Any violation of law, either divine or human; an omission of a duty commanded, or the commission of an act forbidden by law.
2.
Gross violation of human law, in distinction from a misdemeanor or trespass, or other slight offense. Hence, also, any aggravated offense against morality or the public welfare; any outrage or great wrong.
“To part error from crime.” Tennyson.
☞ Crimes, in the English common law, are grave offenses which were originally capitally punished (murder, rape, robbery, arson, burglary, and larceny), as distinguished from misdemeanors, which are offenses of a lighter grade. See
Misdemeanors
. 3.
Any great wickedness or sin; iniquity.
No
crime
was thine, if ’tis no crime
to love. Pope.
4.
That which occasion crime.
[Obs.]
The tree of life, the
crime
of our first father's fall. Spenser.
Syn. – Sin; vice; iniquity; wrong.
–
Crime
, Sin
,Vice
. Sin is the generic term, embracing wickedness of every kind, but specifically denoting an offense as committed against God. Crime is strictly a violation of law either human or divine; but in present usage the term is commonly applied to actions contrary to the laws of the State. Vice is more distinctively that which springs from the inordinate indulgence of the natural appetites, which are in themselves innocent. Thus intemperance, unchastity, duplicity, etc., are vices; while murder, forgery, etc., which spring from the indulgence of selfish passions, are crimes. Webster 1828 Edition
Crime
CRIME
,Noun.
1.
An act which violates a law, divine or human; an act which violates a rule of moral duty; an offense against the laws of right, prescribed by God or man, or against any rule of duty plainly implied in those laws. A crime may consist in omission or neglect, as well as in commission, or positive transgression. The commander of a fortress who suffers the enemy to take possession by neglect, is as really criminal, as one who voluntarily opens the gates without resistance.But in a more common and restricted sense, a crime denotes an offense, or violation of public law, of a deeper and more atrocious nature; a public wrong; or a violation of the commands of God, and the offenses against the laws made to preserve the public rights; as treason, murder, robbery, theft, arson, &c. The minor wrongs committed against individuals or private rights, are denominated trespasses, and the minor wrongs against public rights are called misdemeanors. Crimes and misdemeanors are punishable by indictment, information or public prosecution; trespasses or private injuries, at the suit of the individuals injured. But in many cases an act is considered both as a public offense and a trespass, and is punishable both by the public and the individual injured.
2.
Any great wickedness; iniquity; wrong.No crime was thing, if tis no crime to love.
Capital crime, a crime punishable with death.