polygamy
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Recorded since 1591, from Late Latin polygamia, from Ancient Greek (polygamia), itself from from (polygamos) "often married," from (polys) "many" + (gamos) "marriage".
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
polygamy (plural polygamies)
- The having of a plurality of socially bonded sexual partners at the same time
- Originally polygamy could work either or both ways, but civilisation generally forbids simultaneous husbands
- 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.
- The Islamic form of polygamy is a husband with up to four wives
- (zoology) The state or habit of having more than one sexual mate.
- An insect queen actually practices polygamy only one day, while for an alpha-male defending his harem is the very essence of both his status and polygamy
- (botany) The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers.
[edit] Synonyms
- (common restriction) polygyny
[edit] Antonyms
[edit] Hyponyms
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
the having of a plurality of socially bonded sexual partners at the same time
polygyny — see polygyny
zoology: the state or habit of having more than one mate
botany: the condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers
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