adulterine

[ uh-duhl-tuh-reen, -tuh-rahyn ]

adjective

1. characterized by adulteration; spurious.
2. born of adultery.
3. of or involving adultery.

adulterine

/ əˈdʌltərɪn; -ˌriːn; -ˌraɪn /

adjective

1. of or made by adulteration; fake
2. conceived in adultery

   an adulterine child

Word History and Origins

Origin of adulterine¹

1535–45; < Latin adulterīnus, equivalent to adulter adulterer, counterfeiter ( adulterer ) + -īnus -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Yet in 1468 he married Joan of Portugal, and when she bore a daughter, first repudiated her as adulterine, and then claimed her for his own.

From Project Gutenberg

When any particular class of artificers or traders thought proper to act as a corporation without a charter, such were called adulterine guilds.

From Project Gutenberg

The chapter compelled the offenders to swear, “holding the most Holy Gospels, that they will not henceforward keep any adulterine schools in the churches, nor teach boys song or music without license from the schoolmaster.”

From Project Gutenberg

So he took over or demolished their adulterine castles and restored the fyrd, which was a military draft of every freeman to serve in defense of the realm.

From Project Gutenberg

Abrogation of every law establishing the civil inferiority of women and natural or adulterine children.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cheating
• untrue