[a. OF. fornic- ation, -acion, f. late L. fornicātiōn-em, n. of action f. fornicārī: see FORNICATE and -ATION.] Voluntary sexual intercourse between a man (in restricted use, an unmarried man) and an unmarried woman. In Scripture extended to adultery.

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a. 1300.  Cursor M., 27936.

        Þof þat þis sin [lichery] has branches fele,
O sex allan þan wil i mele;
Fornicacion es an.

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1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 7352.

                  ‘Fornycacyoun’ [ys],
Whan two vnweddyde haue mysdoun.

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a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 57. King David, that for a leude look that he kiste on Barsaba, Vriis wyff, he felle into avowtry and fornicacion with her.

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1494.  Fabyan, Chron., VII. ccxxiv. 251. Takynge of fynes of preestis for cryme of fornycacion.

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1535.  Coverdale, Matt. v. 32. Whosoeuer putteth awaye his wyfe (except it be for fornicacion) causeth her to breake matrymony.

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1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 195. Shee that accuses him of Fornication.

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1779.  Johnson, 10 Oct., in Boswell. Fornication is a crime in a single man.

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1874.  Van Buren, Dis. Genit. Org., 41. Fornication is always irregular, unnatural, often excessive, and therefore is harmful and worse than nothing, looked at from a merely worldly point of view.

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  b.  fig.; esp. in Scripture: The forsaking of God for idols; idolatry; also, spiritual fornication.

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a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, lxxii. 26. Þou lost all þat dos fornycacioun fra þe.

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1691–8.  Norris, Pract. Disc. (1711), III. 47. ’Tis a kind of Spiritual Fornication and Adultery to admit any Creature into a Partnership with him in our Love.

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1860.  Pusey, Min. Proph., 298. All forsaking of God being spiritual fornication from Him Who made His creatures for Himself.

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