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perpetrate

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To perpetrate is to perform or carry out an act, or to commit an illegal or wrongful act.

(verb)

When you go out and rob a bank, this is an example of a time when you perpetrate a theft.

See perpetrate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb perpetrated, perpetrating

to do or perform (something evil, criminal, or offensive); be guilty of
to commit (a blunder), impose (a hoax), etc.

Origin: < L perpetratus, pp. of perpetrare, to commit, perpetrate, orig., to bring about, achieve < per, thoroughly + patrare, to effect, prob. orig. a ritual term < pater, father, priest

Related Forms:

perpetration noun
perpetrator noun

See perpetrate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb per·pe·trat·ed, per·pe·trat·ing, per·pe·trates

To be responsible for; commit: perpetrate a crime; perpetrate a practical joke.

Origin:

Origin: Latin perpetrāre, perpetrāt-, to accomplish

Origin: : per-, per-

Origin: + patrāre, to bring about (from pater, father; see pəter- in Indo-European roots)

Related Forms:

perˌpe·traˈtion noun

perˈpe·traˌtor noun

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