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Synonyms

adulterine

American  
[uh-duhl-tuh-reen, -tuh-rahyn] / əˈdʌl təˌrin, -təˌraɪn /

adjective

  1. characterized by adulteration; spurious.

  2. born of adultery.

  3. of or involving adultery.


adulterine British  
/ əˈdʌltərɪn, -ˌriːn, -ˌraɪn /

adjective

  1. of or made by adulteration; fake

  2. conceived in adultery

    an adulterine child

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of adulterine

1535–45; < Latin adulterīnus, equivalent to adulter adulterer, counterfeiter ( adulterer ) + -īnus -ine 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When any particular class of artificers or traders thought proper to act as a corporation without a charter, such were called adulterine guilds.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

No attempt, however, seems to have been made forcibly to dissolve the adulterine gilds.

From Education in England in the Middle Ages Thesis Approved for the Degree of Doctor of Science in the University of London by Parry, Albert William

I know," said Hereward, "that the French look on us English monk-made knights as spurious and adulterine, unworthy of the name of knight.

From Hereward, the Last of the English by Kingsley, Charles

Yet in 1468 he married Joan of Portugal, and when she bore a daughter, first repudiated her as adulterine, and then claimed her for his own.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various

So he took over or demolished their adulterine castles and restored the fyrd, which was a military draft of every freeman to serve in defense of the realm.

From Our Legal Heritage June 2011 (Sixth) Edition by Reilly, S. A.