fornicate1
[fawr-ni-keyt]
- to commit fornication.
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Origin of fornicate1
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for fornicating
Contemporary Examples
He said he had no idea how the mayor had come to be quoted apparently preemptively reprimanding Prince Harry for “fornicating.”
Historical Examples
And after some reproofs of the fornicating king, he addeth these further stories.
A Christian Directory (Volume 1 of 4)Richard Baxter
fornicate1
- (intr) to indulge in or commit fornication
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Word Origin
C16: from Late Latin fornicārī, from Latin fornix vault, brothel situated therein
fornicate2
fornicated
- biology arched or hoodlike in form
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Word Origin
C19: from Latin fornicātus arched, from fornix vault
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for fornicating
fornicate
v.
1550s, from Late Latin fornicatus, past participle of fornicari (see fornication). Perhaps in some cases a back-formation from fornication. Related: Fornicated; fornicating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper