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criminal conversation. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
criminal conversation, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
criminal conversation in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
criminal conversation you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Noun
criminal conversation (uncountable)
- (law) Unlawful sexual intercourse with a married person; adultery; a common law tort arising from adultery, abolished in many jurisdictions.
1789, Adultery: The Trial of Mr. William Atkinson, Linen-Draper, of Cheapside for Criminal Conversation with Mrs. Conner, page 1:It then charged the defendant, William Atkinſon, with having ſeduced the plaintiff's wife, and with having had criminal converſation with her.
1809, The Trial of the Right Honorable Lord Paget, for Criminal Conversation with Lady Charlotte Wellesley, page 28:Gentlemen of the Jury, This is an action for a compensation by damages, in consequence of a criminal conversation with the Plaintiff's wife, the circumstances of which are more serious and more painful than any I ever met with.
2012, Faramerz Dabhoiwala, The Origins of Sex, Penguin, published 2013, page 77:The main object now was not necessarily to punish or even to prevent immorality, but to improve the law of divorce and to restrict private suits for ‘criminal conversation’.
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