/ pəˈlɪgəmi; NAmE / noun
[ U ] ( technical ) the custom of having more than one wife at the same time
—compare polyandry
► pol·yg·am·ist /pəˈlɪɡəmɪst/ noun
► pol·yg·am·ous / pəˈlɪgəməs; NAmE / adjective :
a polygamous marriage / society
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from French polygamie , via late Latin from Greek polugamia , from polugamos often marrying.