-mē, -mi noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English bigamie, from Medieval Latin bigamia, from Latin bi- bi- (I) + Late Latin -gamia -gamy, from Greek, from gamos marriage + -ia -y; akin to Latin gener son-in-law, Sanskrit jāmi being a brother or sister, jāmī daughter-in-law
1. criminal law
a. : unlawful polygamy
b. : the statutory offense of entering into a ceremonial marriage with one person while still legally married to another
2. canon law : any of several offenses that disqualify one from holding ecclesiastical office or entering holy orders:
a. : the offense of marrying two persons successively whether the first spouse be dead or divorced or of marrying a widow — called also real bigamy
b. : the offense of marrying one already carnally known by another — called also interpretative bigamy
c. : the offense of one in holy orders or under a vow of continence in marrying anyone