Adulteries

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Adultery \A*dul"ter*y\, n.; pl. {Adulteries}. [L. adulterium.
     See {Advoutry}.]
     1. The unfaithfulness of a married person to the marriage
        bed; sexual intercourse by a married man with another than
        his wife, or voluntary sexual intercourse by a married
        woman with another than her husband.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: It is adultery on the part of the married wrongdoer.
           The word has also been used to characterize the act of
           an unmarried participator, the other being married. In
           the United States the definition varies with the local
           statutes. Unlawful intercourse between two married
           persons is sometimes called {double adultery}; between
           a married and an unmarried person, {single adultery}.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Adulteration; corruption. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Script.)
        (a) Lewdness or unchastity of thought as well as act, as
            forbidden by the seventh commandment.
        (b) Faithlessness in religion. --Jer. iii. 9.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Old Law) The fine and penalty imposed for the offense of
        adultery.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. (Eccl.) The intrusion of a person into a bishopric during
        the life of the bishop.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. Injury; degradation; ruin. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              You might wrest the caduceus out of my hand to the
              adultery and spoil of nature.         --B. Jonson.
        [1913 Webster]