103. Crime

See also 239. LAW ; 335. PUNISHMENT ; 391. THEFT .

abetment, abettal

the act of abetting or inciting another to commit a crime. — abettor, abetter , n .

bigamy

the condition of having two spouses simultaneously. — bigamist , n . — bigamous , adj .

contrabandism

the practice of smuggling. — contrabandist , n .

corruptionist

a person who practices or advocates corruption, especially in politics or public life.

criminology

the scientific study of crime and criminals. — criminologist , n . — criminologic, criminological , adj .

defalcation

1. unauthorized appropriation of money; embezzlement.

2. the sum embezzled.

depeculation

Obsolete , the act of stealing or embezzling.

disseizin, disseisin

the process of wrongfully or unlawfully dispossessing a person of his rightful real property.

embracery

the crime of attempting to influence or suborn a judge or jury by bribery, threats, etc.

extortionist

a person who practices the crime of extortion or the obtaining of money by threat of violence. Also extortioner .

fugitation

fleeing from justice, as by a criminal.

gangdom

the world of gangs or organized crime.

knavery

petty dishonesty or fraud. — knave , n. — knavish , adj .

malfeasance

wrongdoing or improper or dishonest conduct, especially by a person who holds public office or a position of trust. Cf. misfeasance . — malfeasant , adj .

malversation

fraudulent behavior, extortion, or corruption by a person who holds public office or a position of trust.

mayhem

Law . an intentional crippling, disfigurement, or mutilation of another.

miscreancy

criminal action or behavior; wrong- or evil-doing. — miscreant , n., adj .

misfeasance

a form of wrongdoing, especially the doing of something lawful in an unlawful way so that the rights of others are infringed. Cf. malfeasance . — misfeasor , n .

misprision

improper conduct or neglectful behavior, especially by a person who holds public office.

mouchardism

the practice of being a police spy. — mouchard , n .

peculation

embezzlement.

penitence, penitency

the state or condition of regretting crimes or offenses and being willing to atone for them. — penitent , n., adj .

penology

1. the science of the punishment of crime.

2. the science of the management of prisons. — penologist , n .

polygamy

the condition of having more than two spouses simultaneously. — polygamist , n . — polygamous , adj .

recidivism

a repeated relapsing into criminal or delinquent behavior. — recidivist , n. — recidivistic, recidivous , adj .

ropery

Archaic . roguish or criminal behavior or action; conduct deserving of hanging.

signalment

a detailed description of a person for purposes of identification by police.

skulduggery

underhanded, dishonest, or deceptive behavior or actions.

trigamy

the condition of having three spouses simultaneously. — trigamous , adj .

Whitefootism

the actions of an Irish secret society (circa 1832) whose members committed murders and other crimes. — Whitefoot , n.