A*dul"ter*y (&?;), n.; pl.
Adulteries(&?;). [L. adulterium. See
Advoutry.] 1. The unfaithfulness of a married
person to the marriage bed; sexual intercourse by a married man with
another than his wife, or voluntary sexual intercourse by a married woman
with another than her husband.
&fist; It is adultery on the part of the married wrongdoer.
The word has also been used to characterize the act of an unmarried
participator, the other being married. In the United States the definition
varies with the local statutes. Unlawful intercourse between two married
persons is sometimes called double adultery; between a married and
an unmarried person, single adultery.
2. Adulteration; corruption. [Obs.] B.
Jonson.
3. (Script.) (a) Lewdness or
unchastity of thought as well as act, as forbidden by the seventh
commandment. (b) Faithlessness in
religion. Jer. iii. 9.
4. (Old Law) The fine and penalty imposed
for the offense of adultery.
5. (Eccl.) The intrusion of a person into a
bishopric during the life of the bishop.
6. Injury; degradation; ruin. [Obs.]
You might wrest the caduceus out of my hand to the
adultery and spoil of nature.
B. Jonson.
