əˈdəltərē, -l.trē, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English adulterie, alteration (influenced by Latin adulterium ) of advoutrie, avoutrie, from Middle French avoutrie, alteration of Old French avoutire, from Latin adulterium, from adulter adulterer, back-formation from adulterare to pollute, defile, commit adultery — more at adulterate
1. : voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband
if a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death — Lev 20:10 (Revised Standard Version)
— compare fornication
2.
a. : unchastity of thought or act
every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart — Mt 5:28 (Revised Standard Version)
b. : religious infidelity ; especially : idolatry
she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree — Jer 3:9 (Revised Standard Version)