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a mensa et thoro

American  
[ey men-suh et thawr-oh, thohr-oh] / eɪ ˈmɛn sə ɛt ˈθɔr oʊ, ˈθoʊr oʊ /

adjective

Law.
  1. pertaining to or noting a divorce that forbids spouses to live together but does not dissolve the marriage bond.


a mensa et thoro British  
/ eɪ ˈmɛnsə ɛt ˈθɔːrəʊ /

adjective

  1. law denoting or relating to a form of divorce in which the parties remain married but do not cohabit: abolished in England in 1857

"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 a mensa et thoro

1590–1600; < Latin: literally, from board and bed. See mensal 2, torus

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.

See Examples For:

A divorce a mensa et thoro could also be granted for cruelty.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

Divorce a mensa et thoro could be granted on the grounds allowed by the canon law.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

In the case of a separation a mensa et thoro alimony was allowed the wife for her support out of her husband's estate at the discretion of the ecclesiastical judges.

From A Short History of Women's Rights From the Days of Augustus to the Present Time. with Special Reference to England and the United States. Second Edition Revised, With Additions. by Hecker, Eugene Arthur

She had long been living with the Duke, but in 1769 she obtained a divorce a mensa et thoro, which she believed erroneously annulled the marriage.

From Lady Mary Wortley Montague Her Life and Letters (1689-1762) by Melville, Lewis

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