fornicate

¹ American  

[fawr-ni-keyt] / ˈfɔr nɪˌkeɪt /

verb (used without object)

fornicated, fornicating

1. to have sexual intercourse with someone to whom one is not married.

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fornicate ² American  

[fawr-ni-kit, -keyt] / ˈfɔr nɪ kɪt, -ˌkeɪt /

Also fornicated

adjective

Biology.

1. arched or vaulted in form.

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fornicate ¹ British  

/ ˈfɔːnɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to indulge in or commit fornication

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fornicate ² British  

/ -ˌkeɪt, ˈfɔːnɪkɪt /

adjective

1. biology arched or hoodlike in form

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Other Word Forms

• fornicator noun

Etymology

Origin of fornicate¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Late Latin fornicātus “consorted,” past participle of fornicārī “to consort with prostitutes,” from Latin fornix “basement, brothel,” also “arch, vault”; fornicate ²

Origin of fornicate²

First recorded in 1820–30; from Latin fornicātus, from fornix “arch, vault,” also “basement, brothel”; fornicate ¹

Example Sentences

By 1969, he was drawing “Joe Blow,” featuring a sweet, smiling all-American family — who fornicate with each other while shouting phrases like “I never realized how much fun you could have with your children!”

From New York Times

Which meant that for all her ill-advised sneaking, drinking and fornicating, Rhaenyra survived another week as heir to the Iron Throne.

From New York Times

When one theatergoer shouted “fornicate” in response to a request for verbs, the ensemble swung into action, grateful to receive an action word with a little grit after a bunch of duds.

From Los Angeles Times

“Broken Gargoyles,” which has been unveiled in several iterations as an installation over the past couple of years, is a vision of fornicating animals, rasped poetry and dreadful mutilation.

From New York Times

He etched women urinating and defecating among trees, rat catchers, and monks fornicating in cornfields.

From Washington Post