subreption

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/sʌbˈɹɛpʃən/

noun

Under Roman law, the act of giving false testimony.

OriginLatin subreptio →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounsubreption (countable and uncountable, plural subreptions)

plural subreptions

  1. countablehistoricaluncountableUnder Roman law, the act of giving false testimony.
  2. countableuncountableCatholicismThe act of obtaining a favour or grant by unfair representation through suppression or fraudulent concealment of facts.

    lest there should be any subreption in this sacred business, it is ordered, that these Ordinations should be no other than solemn

    1644, Bishop Joseph Hall, A Modest Offer
  3. countableuncountableScots lawThe act of obtaining a gift or favor by concealing the truth.
  4. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe conflation of a condition under which it is possible to intuitively understand an object, and a condition under which an object can possibly exist; the confusion of knowing with experiencing.

Origin

  1. Latinsubreptio
  2. Englishsubreption

From Latin subreptio, from subripere, subreptum (“to snatch or take away secretly”). Compare French subreption. See surreptitious, surreptition.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

subreption. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subreption

MLA

“subreption.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subreption. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subreption,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subreption.

Source: subreption on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.