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In law, the crime of what is false; the crime of fraud. In the civil law the term meant a fraudulent subornation or concealment, with design to darken or conceal the truth, or make things appear otherwise than they really are, as in swearing falsely, antedating a contract, or selling by false weights. In modern common law its prevailing signification is that of forgery.

Fraudulent subornation or concealment, with design to darken orhide the truth, and make things appear otherwise than they are. It is committed (1) bywords, as when a witness swears falsely; (2) by writing, as when a person antedates acontract; (3) by deed, as selling by false weights and measures. Wharton. See CRIMEN FALSI.

[L.] (Leg.) Fraudulent subornation or concealment with intent to deceive, as by perjury, false writing, or cheating by false weights and measures.