Adultery

A·dul·ter·y

Adultery

n.

pl. Adulteries

  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.
  2. Adulteration; corruption. [Obs.]
  3. Lewdness or unchastity of thought as well as act, as forbidden by the seventh commandment. (Script.)
  4. The fine and penalty imposed for the offense of adultery. (Old Law)
  5. The intrusion of a person into a bishopric during the life of the bishop. (Eccl.)
  6. Injury; degradation; ruin. [Obs.]
    You might wrest the caduceus out of my hand to the adultery and spoil of nature.