BIGAMIES
Etymology
Noun
bigamies
plural of bigamy
Source: Wiktionary
BIGAMY
Big"a*my, n. Etym: [OE. bigamie, fr. L. bigamus twice married; bis
twice + Gr. marriage; prob. akin to Skt. jamis related, and L. gemini
twins, the root meaning to bind, join: cf. F. bigamie. Cf. Digamy.]
(Law)
Definition: The offense of marrying one person when already legally married
to another. Wharton.
Note: It is not strictly correct to call this offense bigamy: it more
properly denominated polygamy, i. e., having a plurality of wives or
husbands at once, and in several statutes in the United States the
offense is classed under the head of polygamy. In the canon law
bigamy was the marrying of two virgins successively, or one after the
death of the other, or once marrying a widow. This disqualified a man
for orders, and for holding ecclesiastical offices. Shakespeare uses
the word in the latter sense. Blackstone. Bouvier.
Base declension and loathed bigamy. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition