POLYGAMOUS • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Polygamous

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adjective

Polygamous adj.

Of or pertaining to polygamy; characterized by, or involving, polygamy; having a plurality of wives; as, polygamous marriages; opposed to monogamous.

(Zool.) Pairing with more than one female. "Most deer, cattle, and sheep are polygamous."

(Bot.) Belonging to the Polygamia; bearing both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant.

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Etymology of 'Polygamous'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Polygamous" Quotes from Famous Books

... more than one claimant for the damsel's affection. In many animals we see provisions whereby the male may effectively deal with his rivals. This is especially likely to be the case if the animal be a polygamist. In every species there are produced about as many males as females. If the polygamous habit leads one male to gather about him a group of females, with whom he mates, it is evident that he is displacing an equal number of rivals, and they are not willingly displaced. Accordingly we find that polygamy is ...

— The Meaning of Evolution • Samuel Christian Schmucker

... era of civilization for mankind, but he himself sanctioned polygamy with which I am charged. For me you have scorn, for him a monument." Taking his cue from this Mormon speaker, one of the most recent of Luther's Catholic critics remarks: "Let the wives and mothers of America ponder well the polygamous phase of the Reformation before they say 'Amen' to the unsavory and brazen laudations of the profligate opponent of Christian marriage, Christian decency, and Christian propriety. Compare the teachings of Luther on polygamy with those of Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet ...

— Luther Examined and Reexamined - A Review of Catholic Criticism and a Plea for Revaluation • W. H. T. Dau

Words linked to "Polygamous" : monogamous, monoecious, polygamy, bigamous, polyoicous, heteroicous, monecious, polyandrous, polygynous, monoicous