Crime, n.
n. [Fr. crime, Pr. crim, Pg. crime, It. crimine, from Lat. crimen, criminis, judicial decision, that which is subjected to such a decision, charge, fault, crime, from cernere, to decide judicially.]
Sense 1. Any violation of law, either divine or human; an omission of a duty which is commanded, or the commission of an act which is forbidden, by law.
Sense 2. Gross offense, or violation of 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.
Author of evil, . . . how hast thou disturbed Heaven’s blessed peace, and into nature brought Misery, uncreated till the crime Of thy rebellion! Milton.
The intuitive decision of a bright And thorough edged intellect, to part Error from crime. Tennyson.
Sense 3. That which occasions crime. [Rare.]
The tree of life, the crime of our first father’s fall. Spenser.
Capital crime, a crime punishable with death.
Synonyms—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, &c., are vices; while murder, forgery, &c., which spring from the indulgence of selfish passions, are crimes.
It is a great sin to swear unto a sin, But greater sin to keep a sinful oath. Shak.
Undergo with me one guilt, one crime Of tasting. Milton.
No vice so simple but assumes Some mark of virtue on its outward parts. Shak.
Ungoverned appetite a brutish vice. Milton.