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adulterine

 - 2 dictionary results

a⋅dul⋅ter⋅ine

[uh-duhl-tuh-reen, -tuh-rahyn]
–adjective
1. characterized by adulteration; spurious.
2. born of adultery.
3. of or involving adultery.

Origin:
1535–45; < L adulterīnus, equiv. to adulter adulterer, counterfeiter (see adulterer ) + -īnus -ine 1
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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a·dul·ter·ine   (ə-dŭl'tə-rīn', -rēn')   
adj.  
  1. Characterized by adulteration; spurious.

  2. Unauthorized by law; illegal.

  3. Born of adultery: adulterine offspring.


[Latin adulterīnus, from adulter, adulterer, perhaps back-formation from adulterāre, to pollute; see adulterate.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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