concubinage

[ kon-kyoo-buh-nij, kong- ]

/ kɒnˈkyu bə nɪdʒ, kɒŋ- /

noun

cohabitation of a man and woman without legal or formal marriage.

the state or practice of being a concubine.

Nearby words

concretio cordis, concretion, concretionary, concretism, concretize, concubinage, concubinary, concubine, concupiscence, concupiscent, concupiscible

Origin of concubinage

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at concubine, -age

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for concubinage

Yet rampant corruption, entrenched patriarchy, and a long history of concubinage also play a role.
Inside China’s Mistress-Industrial Complex|Junheng Li, Bethany Allen, Ana Swanson|February 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Polygamy or concubinage is rare: the adoption of children common.
The Natural History of the Varieties of Man|Robert Gordon Latham
It is to be regretted that the writer of the "Life of Mahomet" most absurdly confounds slavery and concubinage.
A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihd'|Moulavi Gergh Ali
Concubinage conjointly with a wife, is altogether unlawful for Christians, and detestable.
The Delights of Wisdom Pertaining to Conjugial Love|Emanuel Swedenborg

As concubinage has been practiced from time immemorial, the heir, the oldest son, has not always been born of the empress.
The Old World and Its Ways|William Jennings Bryan
But, though polygamy and concubinage are seldom known in Java, their absence must not be considered as implying superior morality.
The History of Prostitution|William W. Sanger

British Dictionary definitions for concubinage

concubinage

/ (kɒnˈkjuːbɪnɪdʒ) /

noun

cohabitation without legal marriage

the state of living as a concubine

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

Word Origin and History for concubinage

concubinage

late 14c., from Middle French concubinage, from concubin, from Latin concubina (see concubine).