MAJESTY

In Jurisprudence, any crime committed against the sovereign power in a state. The name is derived from the Roman phrase, ••crimen |SSM in a jest at is," which denoted a charge brought against a citizen for acta of rebellion, usurpation of ollice, and general misdemeanours of a ixilitical character, which were comprehended under the title of injuries to the " majesty of the Roman people." The emperors transferred to all offences against themselves the same criminal character; and offences of Ic/.c -majesty were multiplied under their arbitrary governments. 1,1 AS. A provincial name, adopted by geologists, for an argillaceous limestone, which, together with Its a ociated baracterlzed by peculiar fo ils. See Geology. [s. 677]