Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adverb Flagrante delicto.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adverb In the
act of committing amisdeed . - adverb While performing sexual activity.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[New Latin in flagrante dēlictō : Latin in, in; see in– + Medieval Latin flagrante dēlictō, while the crime is blazing; see flagrante delicto.]
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
From Medieval Latin, literally “while the crime is blazing”, from Latin in + flāgrō ("burn") + dēlictō, form of dēlictum ("crime, misdeed").
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Examples
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john commented on the word in flagrante delicto
Latin for "while the crime is blazing." Similar in meaning to "caught in the act" or "caught red handed," and has come to be synonymous with "busted while getting it on."
October 17, 2007
punchcard commented on the word in flagrante delicto
The Latin term is sometimes used colloquially as a euphemism for a couple being caught in the act of sexual intercourse, as it is used in the film Clue; in modern usage the intercourse need not be adulterous or illicit
September 27, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word in flagrante delicto
For some reason I always picture the movie "Amadeus" when I hear this phrase, though I don't think it's ever used in the movie...
Also I love that it means "while the crime is blazing." Cool. :)
September 27, 2008
frindley commented on the word in flagrante delicto
The Renaissance madrigalist Don Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, wrote some amazingly modern-sounding music, but is perhaps even more famous for murdering his wife and her lover on catching them in flagrante delicto (or, it is said, asleep post flagrante delicto).
September 27, 2008