incest

[ in-sest ]
/ ˈɪn sɛst /

noun

sexual intercourse between closely related persons.
the crime of sexual intercourse, cohabitation, or marriage between persons within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity wherein marriage is legally forbidden.

Origin of incest

1175–1225; Middle English < Latin incestus (noun) sexual impurity, derivative of incestus (adj.) profane, sexually impure ( in- in-3 + -cestus combining form of castus chaste), by analogy with v. nouns derived with -tus

British Dictionary definitions for incests

incest
/ (ˈɪnsɛst) /

noun

sexual intercourse between two persons commonly regarded as too closely related to marry

Word Origin for incest

C13: from Latin incestus incest (from adj: impure, defiled), from in- 1 + castus chaste

Medical definitions for incests

incest
[ ĭnsĕst′ ]

n.

Sexual relations between persons who are so closely related that their marriage is illegal or forbidden by custom.
The statutory crime of sexual relations with such a near relative.

Cultural definitions for incests

incest

Sexual relations between relatives who are forbidden by law to marry; for example, between father and daughter or mother and son.

notes for incest

Though each society has its own system for determining the range of people who fall into this category, every society has an incest taboo of some sort.