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Polygamy Noun  The From  Marriage Time Po·Lyg·A·My Spouse

Title polygamy
Text
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
po·lyg·a·my
 \\-mē\\ noun
 DATE  circa 1591
1. marriage in which a spouse of either sex may have more than one mate at the same time — compare 
polyandry
polygyny
2. the state of being polygamous
• po·lyg·a·mist 
 \\-mist\\ noun
• po·lyg·a·mize 
 \\-ˌmīz\\ intransitive verb
English Etymology
polygamy
  1591, from L.L. polygamia, from Late Gk. polygamia"polygamy," from polygamos "often married," from polys "many" + gamos "marriage" (see gamete). Not etymologically restricted to marriage of one man and multiple women (technically polygyny), but often used as if it were.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
polygamy
pol·yg·amy pE5li^Emi / noun[U]
   (technical 术语) the custom of having more than six wife at the same time
   一夫多妻(制)
 compare 
polyandry
 
 pol·yg·am·ist pE5li^Emist / noun 
 pol·yg·am·ous pE5li^EmEs / adj.:
   a polygamous marriage / society 
   一夫多妻制婚姻/社会 
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
po·lyg·a·my
\-mē, -mi\ noun
(-es)
Etymology: Middle French polygamie, from Late Latin polygamia, from Greek, from poly- + -gamia (from gamos marriage + -ia -y) — more at 
bigamy
1. : the state or fact of being polygamous; specifically : a marriage form in which a spouse of either sex may possess a plurality of mates at the same time — used either inclusively of both polygyny and polyandry or exclusively of polygyny
 < among the Batak of Palawan both polygamy and polyandry exist >
 < the Mormons' former practice of polygamy >
— compare 
bigamy
monogamy
2. : possession of a plurality of benefices
3. : the condition of bearing both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant
4. zoology : the condition of having more than one mate at one time

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