bastardy
English
Etymology
From Middle English bastardie (also as bastardrie), a borrowing from Middle French bastardie.
Noun
bastardy (countable and uncountable, plural bastardies)
- (law) The condition of being illegitimate, of being born to an unmarried woman or as the fruit of adultery.
- Shakespeare, Richard III, Act 3, Scene 5.
- Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
- The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post:—
- There, at your meet'st advantage of the time,
- Infer the bastardy of Edward's children:
- Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen,
- Only for saying he would make his son
- Heir to the crown;—meaning, indeed, his house,
- Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so.
- Shakespeare, Richard III, Act 3, Scene 5.
Translations
the condition of being illegitimate - born to an unmarried woman or as the result of adultery
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Derived terms
Related terms
See also
Middle English
Noun
bastardy
- Alternative form of bastardie