Adultery Definition
The voluntary sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than his or her spouse. The consent of both parties and penetration are required for adultery to exist. Under the common law, only a married woman could commit adultery, but most states now apply the term to married men as well. Also, in the states where adultery is still a crime, most statutes now provide that the unmarried sexual partner of a married person can also be charged with the offense. See also criminal conversation, fornication, and rape.
Other Word Forms of Adultery
Noun
Origin of Adultery
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From the Old French scholarly form adultere (“violation of conjugal faith”) (in Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons, 12c.), from Latin adulterium, from adulter. Replaced the older form avoutrie, from the popular Old French forms avouterie or aoulterie. Compare French adultère (“adultery”). Old English word was æwbryce (“breach of lawful marriage”).
From Wiktionary
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Middle English from Old French adultere from Latin adulterium from adulter adulterer adulterate
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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