perpetrate

American  

[pur-pi-treyt] / ˈpɜr pɪˌtreɪt /

verb (used with object)

perpetrated, perpetrating

1. to commit.

   to perpetrate a crime.

2. to present, execute, or do in a poor or tasteless manner.

   Who perpetrated this so-called comedy?

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perpetrate British  

/ ˈpɜːpɪˌtreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to perform or be responsible for (a deception, crime, etc)

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Usage

Perpetrate and perpetuate are sometimes confused: he must answer for the crimes he has perpetrated (not perpetuated ); the book helped to perpetuate (not perpetrate ) some of the myths surrounding his early life

Other Word Forms

• nonperpetration noun
• perpetrable adjective
• perpetration noun
• perpetrator noun

Etymology

Origin of perpetrate

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin perpetrātus (past participle of perpetrāre “to carry out, execute, perform”), equivalent to per- per- + -petr- (combining form of patrāre “to father, bring abou”t; pater ) + -ā- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix; -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Israel has only executed two people in its history - one of them the infamous Nazi official Adolf Eichmann, who played an important role in perpetrating the Holocaust.

From BBC

But George told AFP it is "unlikely" the gym shooting was perpetrated by Iranian government agents.

From Barron's

Having suppressed its military for years in an attempt to atone for the horrors it perpetrated, can Germany fulfil its newfound ambition to become Europe's preeminent military power?

From BBC

Chalamet's comments may have been misjudged, but his crimes are pretty low-level in comparison with some of the wrongdoing that's been perpetrated in Hollywood over the years.

From BBC

"We were there very quickly after the deed had been perpetrated," Robertson says.

From BBC

Related Words

• carry out
• commit
• execute
• inflict
• wreak