alienation of affections
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of alienation of affections
First recorded in 1865–70
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.
Speaking Wednesday, Kevin Howard told Greenville’s WNCN-TV he filed a lawsuit against the man who had an affair with his wife over "alienation of affections," a common law tort that dates to the 18th century, when women were considered their husbands' property.
From Fox News
Under the "alienation of affections" law, a plaintiff must prove the marriage was happy before a third party intervened.
From Fox News
Then, Melissa sued Cuesta, the school district, and school officials, seeking damages for, among other things, “repeated sexual injury and assault,” “nightmares and sleep deprivation,” “emotional distress,” “alienation of affections,” and “loss of enjoyment of life.”
From Slate
Last week, a strong man of 69, he was in again, being sued for $100,000 alienation of affections by a doughnut maker named Satir C. Adams.
From Time Magazine Archive
When his wife divorced him, he sued the Rev. Hill for $1 million, on grounds of "alienation of affections through teaching of the Bible," also claiming that he does not go to nightclubs or bet on dog races.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
