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Fornication - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Fornication : (noun)
1: voluntary sexual intercourse between persons not married to
each other
2: extramarital sex that willfully and maliciously interferes
with marriage relations; "adultery is often cited as
grounds for divorce" [syn: adultery, criminal
conversation]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Fornication : \For`ni*ca"tion\, n. [F. fornication, L.
fornicatio.]
1. Unlawful sexual intercourse on the part of an unmarried
person; the act of such illicit sexual intercourse between
a man and a woman as does not by law amount to adultery.
Note: In England, the offense, though cognizable in the
ecclesiastical courts, was not at common law subject to
secular prosecution. In the United States it is
indictable in some States at common law, in others only
by statute. --Whartyon.
2. (Script.)
(a) Adultery.
(b) Incest.
(c) Idolatry.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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FORNICATION, crim. law. The unlawful carnal knowledge of an unmarried person
with another, whether the latter be married or unmarried. When the party is
married, the offence, as to him or her, is known by the name of adultery.
(q.v.)Fornication : is, however, included in every case of adultery, as a
larceny is included in robbery. 2 Hale's P. C. 302.
Based on Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [Bouvier_Law_Dictionary]:
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Fornication : in every form of it was sternly condemned by the Mosaic law
(Lev. 21:9; 19:29; Deut. 22:20, 21, 23-29; 23:18; Ex. 22:16).
(See ADULTERY.)
But this word is more frequently used in a symbolical than in
its ordinary sense. It frequently means a forsaking of God or a
following after idols (Isa. 1:2; Jer. 2:20; Ezek. 16; Hos. 1:2;
2:1-5; Jer. 3:8,9).
Based on Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [Bible_Dictionary]:
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Fornication : Fornication: Sexual intercourse that is "illicit", outside of marriage.
The term "fornication" has a close medical relative by the name of " fornix ", the word for "arch" in Latin. It seems that the Roman prostitutes used to hang out under the arches of certain public
buildings. The act of carrying on an illicit relationship consequently came to be called "going under the arches" or fornication.
Not to be confused with formication .
Based on Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [Bible_Dictionary]:
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