criminal conversation
Americannoun
noun
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(formerly) a common law action brought by a husband by which he claimed damages against an adulterer
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another term for adultery
Etymology
Origin of criminal conversation
First recorded in 1760–70
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.
Adultery also figures as a basis for demotions, as a ground for tort liability in cases alleging criminal conversation and alienation of affection, and as a factor in allocating property and custody in divorce cases.
From Salon • Apr. 2, 2016
Nor should courts tolerate speculative and vexatious actions for criminal conversation and alienation of affection.
From Salon • Apr. 2, 2016
His lawyers, however, attempted to prove criminal conversation, in hopes of extorting money from my lover.
From The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle by Smollett, T. (Tobias)
A wife may testify against the husband in certain cases, as actions for alienating of affection, or criminal conversation; not so the husband.
From Popular Law-making by Stimson, Frederic Jesup
Honest indifference has no intrigues, no elopements, no disgraceful trials for criminal conversation, no divorces.
From The Black Baronet; or, The Chronicles Of Ballytrain The Works of William Carleton, Volume One by Carleton, William
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.
