Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

Personate

Defined in 2 dictionaries — Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910)

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

In Criminal Law. To assume the character of another without lawful authority, and, in such character, do something to his prejudice, or to the prejudice of another, without his will or consent. The bare fact of personating another for the purpose of fraud is no more than a cheat or misdemeanor at common law, and punishable as such; 2 East, PI. Cr. 1010; 2 Russ, Cr. 479. By statute punishment is inflicted in tho United States courts for false personation of any person under the naturalization laws, and of any person holding a claim or debt against the government; R. S. §§ 5424, 5436. See, generally, Renoard v. Noble, 2 Johns. Cas. (N. Y.) 293; 16 Viner, Abr. 336; Comyns, Dig. Aotion on the Case for a Deceit

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

In criminal law. To assume the person (character) of another, without his consent or knowledge, in order to deceive others, and, in such feigned character, to fraudulently do some act or gain some advantage, to the harm or prejudice of the person counterfeited. See 2 East, P. C. 1010.