fornicate

1
[ fawr-ni-keyt ]
See synonyms for fornicate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),for·ni·cat·ed, for·ni·cat·ing.
  1. to have sexual intercourse with someone to whom one is not married.

Origin of fornicate

1
First recorded in 1545–55; from Late Latin fornicātus “consorted,” past participle of fornicārī “to consort with prostitutes,” from Latin fornix “basement, brothel,” also “arch, vault”; cf. fornicate2

Other words from fornicate

  • for·ni·ca·tor, noun

Words Nearby fornicate

Other definitions for fornicate (2 of 2)

fornicate2
[ fawr-ni-kit, -keyt ]

adjectiveBiology.
  1. arched or vaulted in form.

Origin of fornicate

2
First recorded in 1820–30; from Latin fornicātus, from fornix “arch, vault,” also “basement, brothel”; cf. fornicate1
  • Also for·ni·cat·ed [fawr-ni-key-tid] /ˈfɔr nɪˌkeɪ tɪd/ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use fornicate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fornicate (1 of 2)

fornicate1

/ (ˈfɔːnɪˌkeɪt) /


verb
  1. (intr) to indulge in or commit fornication

Origin of fornicate

1
C16: from Late Latin fornicārī, from Latin fornix vault, brothel situated therein

Derived forms of fornicate

  • fornicator, noun

British Dictionary definitions for fornicate (2 of 2)

fornicate2

fornicated

/ (ˈfɔːnɪkɪt, -ˌkeɪt) /


adjective
  1. biology arched or hoodlike in form

Origin of fornicate

2
C19: from Latin fornicātus arched, from fornix vault

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