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bigamy

Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The criminal offense of marrying one person while still legally married to another.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Literally, double marriage; remarriage during the existence of a former marriage; in law, the offense of having two or more wives or husbands at the same time.
  • noun . Second marriage; remarriage of a widow or widower.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Law) The offense of marrying one person when already legally married to another.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of having two (legal or illegal) spouses simultaneously
  • noun ecclesiastical A second marriage

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the offense of marrying someone while you have a living spouse from whom no valid divorce has occurred
  • noun having two spouses at the same time

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English bigamie, from Old French, from Medieval Latin bigamia, from Late Latin bigamus, twice married : Latin bi-, two; see bi– + Greek gamos, marriage; see –gamous.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French bigamie, from Latin bigamia, bigamus ("twice married"), from bis ("twice") + Ancient Greek γάμος (gamos, "marriage"). In common terms, from bi- + -gamy

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Examples

  • As such, what we call bigamy, polygamy, etc. would be more like general partnerships.

    (Cartoon) - Constitution as Word Jumble - TobyToons – dia0420’s Diary - RedState 2009

  • The present usage in criminal law of applying the term bigamy to that which is more strictly called polygamy is, according to Blackstone (Lib.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2: Assizes-Browne 1840-1916 1913

  • Although bigamy is illegal in the UK, those who have moved here after marrying more than one woman in Islamic countries are allowed to remain in polygamous partnerships – and can even claim benefits for their additional spouses.

    Muslim peer claims UK politicians are scared of discussing polygamy 2009

  • Even though bigamy is a crime in Britain, the decision by ministers means that polygamous marriages can now be recognised formally by the state, so long as the weddings took place in countries where the arrangement is legal.

    Romney Quizzed on John and Ken Show 2008

  • Even though bigamy is a crime in Britain, the decision by ministers means that polygamous marriages can now be recognised formally by the state, so long as the weddings took place in countries where the arrangement is legal.

    VDARE.com: Blog Articles » Print » Polygamy Diversity to Be Rewarded 2008

  • In Britain, bigamy is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

    Archive 2008-02-01 Not a sheep 2008

  • Even though bigamy is a crime in Britain, the decision by ministers means that polygamous marriages can now be recognised formally by the state, so long as the weddings took place in countries where the arrangement is legal.

    Polygamy Diversity to Be Rewarded 2008

  • Even though bigamy is a crime in Britain, the decision by ministers means that polygamous marriages can now be recognised formally by the state, so long as the weddings took place in countries where the arrangement is legal.

    Archive 2008-02-01 Not a sheep 2008

  • But the institution of bigamy is not rare and is commonly referred to in popular culture.

    Religion in Mexico? 2003

  • Polygamy is the religious or cultural practice of a person having more than one spouse, which is defined as bigamy under law.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com The Huffington Post News Editors 2011

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