adultery

[ uh-duhl-tuh-ree ]

/ əˈdʌl tə ri /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR adultery ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural a·dul·ter·ies.

voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his or her lawful spouse.

Origin of adultery

1325–75; Middle English adulterie < Latin adulterium, equivalent to adulter (see adulterer) + -ium -ium; replacing Middle English a(d)vouterie < Old French avoutrie < Latin, with ad- ad- replacing a a-⁵

Words nearby adultery

adulteration, adulterer, adulteress, adulterine, adulterous, adultery, adultescent, adumbral, adumbrate, adumbrative, adunc

Example sentences from the Web for adultery

It also contains some clunky passages of adultery, temptations of the flesh, and general sexual awkwardness.

Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ |Asawin Suebsaeng |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Pounding is charged with one count each of assault, adultery, and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Commando Colonel Accused of Exposing his Lover to HIV |Jacob Siegel |November 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Typically, adultery charges are added to cases where there have been other offenses.

Commando Colonel Accused of Exposing his Lover to HIV |Jacob Siegel |November 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The opera is a dark and passionate tale of adultery and greed.

When Stalin Met Lady Macbeth |Brian Moynahan |November 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Then I think of the great writers of suburban misery (and drinking, and adultery), Updike and Cheever.

An Author at Home in Lonely Landscapes |Letitia Trent |July 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Now, we cannot but agree with the Puritans, that adultery is not a subject for comedy at all.

Plays and Puritans |Charles Kingsley
For many of this sex also, and of noble birth, were put to death on being convicted of adultery or unchastity.

The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus |Ammianus Marcellinus
In short, adultery isn't so very reprehensible if the King doesn't know.

Secret Memoirs: The Story of Louise, Crown Princess |Henry W. Fischer
It gave me to understand that Muki was bringing an action against me for adultery.

Eyes Like the Sea |Mr Jkai
Prejudices: celibacy of priests, futility of adultery, emancipation of woman.

Bouvard and Pcuchet, part 2 |Gustave Flaubert

British Dictionary definitions for adultery

adultery

/ (əˈdʌltərɪ) /

noun plural -teries

voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man or woman and a partner other than the legal spouse

Word Origin for adultery

C15: adulterie, altered (as if directly from Latin adulterium) from C14 avoutrie, via Old French from Latin adulterium, from adulter, back formation from adulterāre. See adulterate

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

adultery

noun, plural a·dul·ter·ies.

Origin of adultery

Words nearby adultery

Example sentences from the Web for adultery

British Dictionary definitions for adultery

noun plural -teries

Word Origin for adultery

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

adultery

noun, plural a·dul·ter·ies.

Origin of adultery

Words nearby adultery

Words related to adultery

Example sentences from the Web for adultery

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for adultery

noun plural -teries

Word Origin for adultery

British Dictionary definitions for adultery