English Explanatory Dictionary

adultery

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse. See more synonyms at Thesaurus:cuckoldry
  2. Lewdness or unchastity of thought as well as act, as forbidden by the sixth/seventh commandment; sinful sexual behavior as a category.
  3. Faithlessness in religion.
  4. The fine and penalty formerly imposed for the offence of adultery.
  5. The intrusion of a person into a bishopric during the life of the bishop.
  6. Adulteration; corruption.
  7. Injury; degradation; ruin.

Pronunciation

/əˈdʌltəɹi/ en-us-adultery.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-adultery.wav

Word forms

adultery adulteries

Etymology

With change of suffix, from the Old French adultere (“violation of conjugal faith”) (in Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons, 12c.), a learnèd borrowing from Latin adulterium, from adulterō. Replaced the older form avoutrie, from the inherited Old French forms avouterie or aoulterie, while keeping its suffix. Compare French adultère (“adultery”). Displaced Old English ǣwbryċe. Not related to adult.

Synonyms

advowtry

Related words

adulter adulterant adulterate adulteration adulterator adulterer adulteress adulterine adulterise adulterous criminal conversation

Derived words

adulterize antiadultery commit adultery
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