fornicate

[fawr-ni-keyt]

verb (used without object), for·ni·cat·ed, for·ni·cat·ing.

to commit fornication.

Origin of fornicate

1545–55; < Late Latin fornicātus (past participle of fornicārī to consort with prostitutes), equivalent to Latin fornic- (stem of fornix) arch, vault, basement, brothel + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsfor·ni·ca·tor, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for fornicating

philander

Examples from the Web for fornicating

Contemporary Examples of fornicating

He said he had no idea how the mayor had come to be quoted apparently preemptively reprimanding Prince Harry for “fornicating.”
Harry Warned Off ‘Fornicating’?
Tom Sykes
November 8, 2011

Historical Examples of fornicating

And after some reproofs of the fornicating king, he addeth these further stories.
A Christian Directory (Volume 1 of 4)
Richard Baxter

British Dictionary definitions for fornicating

fornicate

verb

(intr) to indulge in or commit fornication

Derived Formsfornicator, noun

Word Origin for fornicate

C16: from Late Latin fornicārī, from Latin fornix vault, brothel situated therein

fornicate

fornicated

adjective

biology arched or hoodlike in form

Word Origin for fornicate

C19: from Latin fornicātus arched, from fornix vault

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 fornicating

fornicate

1550s, from Late Latin fornicatus, past participle of fornicari (see fornication). Perhaps in some cases a back-formation from fornication. Related: Fornicated; fornicating.