concubinage
Americannoun
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cohabitation of a man and woman without legal or formal marriage.
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the state or practice of being a concubine.
noun
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cohabitation without legal marriage
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the state of living as a concubine
Etymology
Origin of concubinage
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at concubine, -age
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.
The law banned compulsory arranged marriages, concubinage, child betrothal and interference in the remarriage of widows.
From Time Magazine Archive
Three years ago, the National Assembly passed her family bill, which banned polygamy and concubinage, set up stiff penalties for adultery, outlawed divorce except by permission of the President.
From Time Magazine Archive
Nhu has banned polygamy, concubinage, dancing, and even fighting fish.
From Time Magazine Archive
They led the movements for famine relief and Western agricultural methods, led in the attacks on opium, foot-binding, daughter slaughter, concubinage.
From Time Magazine Archive
The bishop of Utrecht supported him warmly, and got him to preach against concubinage in the presence of the clergy assembled in synod.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 5 "Greek Law" to "Ground-Squirrel" by Various
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.
