Polygamy
WordNet
noun
(1) Having more than one spouse at a time
WiktionaryText
Etymology
Recorded since 1591, from Late polygamia, from (polygamia), itself from from (polygamos) "often married," from (polys) "many" + (gamos) "marriage".
Noun
- The having of a plurality of socially bonded sexual partners at the same time
- Originally polygamy could work either or both ways, but civilisation generally forbids simultaneous husbands
- Commonly used specifically for polygyny, the marriage of a man to more than one wife, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time.
- The Islamic form of polygamy is a husband with up to four wives
- The state or habit of having more than one sexual mate.
- An insect queen actually practices polygamy only one day, while for an alpha-male defending his harem is the very essence of both his status and polygamy
- The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers.