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fornication definition

for·ni·ca·tion (fôr′ni kā′s̸hən)

noun

    1. voluntary sexual intercourse engaged in by a man, esp. an unmarried man, with an unmarried woman
    2. voluntary sexual intercourse engaged in by an unmarried person: if the other person is married, the act of the unmarried person is sometimes considered adultery
  2. Bible
    1. any unlawful sexual intercourse, including adultery
    2. worship of idols

Etymology: ME fornicacioun < OFr fornication < LL(Ec) fornicatio < fornicatus: see fornicate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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