Fornication

Pronunciation

• enPR: fôr'nÄ­-kā'shÉ™n, IPA: /ËŒfÉ”rnɪˈkeɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Origin

From Old French fornicacion, from Latin fornicatio, from fornix ("brothel").

Full definition of fornication

Noun

1. sexual intercourse, especially on the part of an unmarried person.
2. (legal) The act of such illicit sexual intercourse between a man and a woman which does not by law amount to adultery.1604 I am the sister of one Claudio, Condemn'd upon the act of fornication To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo — Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, Act 5, Scene 11611 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. — Galatians 5:19-21 KJV

Synonyms

Derived terms

• fornicatory