Variant: or lese maj · es · ty
Pronunciation: ˌ l ā z- ' ma-j ə -st ē , ˌ lez-, ˌ l ē z-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French lese majesté, from Latin laesa majestas, literally, injured majesty
Date: 1536
1 a : a crime (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