Lexic.us

Definition of Polygamy

1. Noun. Having more than one spouse at a time.

Definition of Polygamy

1. n. The having of a plurality of wives or husbands at the same time; usually, the marriage of a man to more than one woman, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time; -- opposed to monogamy; as, the nations of the East practiced polygamy. See the Note under Bigamy, and cf. Polyandry.

Definition of Polygamy

1. Noun. The having of multiple socially bonded sexual partners at the same time ¹

2. Noun. Commonly used specifically for polygyny, the marriage of a man to more than one wife, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time. ¹

3. Noun. (zoology) The state or habit of having more than one sexual mate. ¹

4. Noun. (botany) The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Polygamy

1. the condition of having more than one spouse at the same time [n -MIES]

Medical Definition of Polygamy

1. 1. The having of a plurality of wives or husbands at the same time; usually, the marriage of a man to more than one woman, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time; opposed to monogamy; as, the nations of the East practiced polygamy. See the Note under Bigamy, and cf. Polyandry. 2. The state or habit of having more than one mate. 3. The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers. Origin: Gr.; cf. F. Polygamie. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Polygamy

Literary usage of Polygamy

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Evolution of Marriage and of the Family by Charles Jean Marie Letourneau (1895)
"polygamy and sociability—polygamy in Australia, in New Caledonia, and at Fiji— The legitimate wife and concubines at Fiji — polygamy among the Hottentots ..."

2. Great Debates in American History: From the Debates in the British by United States Congress, Marion Mills Miller, Great Britain Parliament (1913)
"... RECOGNITION OF polygamy [polygamy AND SLAVERY] Sketch of the Rise of Mormonism, Its Settlement of Utah, and Its Doctrine of polygamy—Bill Is Introduced ..."

3. Commentaries on American Law by James Kent, Charles M. Barnes (1884)
"of bigamy, of polygamy, as it ought more properly * to * 81 be termed, (a) has been made a capital offence in some, ami punished very severely in other, ..."

4. The Arena by Harry Houdini Collection (Library of Congress) (1906)
"Owing to a conviction in the minds of many that the Mormon leaders have broken their pledges concerning the cessation of polygamy and unlawful cohabitation, ..."

5. The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy by William Paley (1832)
"polygamy. THE equality* in the number of males and females born into the world, ... Had God intended polygamy for the species, it is probable he would have ..."

6. Primitive Society by Robert Harry Lowie (1920)
"What is commonly reckoned as polygamy is accurately called polygyny, ... POLYGYNY polygamy is one of those dangerous catchwords that require careful ..."

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