English
adultery
Adultery comes from Latin adulterō ‘to commit adultery (with)’, from Proto-Italic *aliteros ‘other (of two)’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljos‘another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*aliteros‘other (of two)’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalterum/alteram
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEadulterō‘to commit adultery (with)’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEadulterium
- Englishearliest quotation 1611adultery
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljos‘another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*aliteros‘other (of two)’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalterum/alteram
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEadulterō‘to commit adultery (with)’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEadulterium
- Englishearliest quotation 1611adultery
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “And it came to pass through the lightness of…”
The story
Replaced the older form avoutrie, from the inherited Old French forms avouterie or aoulterie, while keeping its suffix. Not related to adult.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’
as, all, old, el, element, ellen, ultimate, alumni, qualification, elder, outrage, ultra, ou, altitude, alpine, altar, alt, abolish, alias, adolescent, alter, alum, alto, alimony, alp, proletariat, retaliate, auld, coalesce, foetal, exalt, althea, eld, ulterior, withal, aad, altimeter, 59 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos ‘other, another’
else, alienation, alienate, parallax, inalienable, 30 more
through Proto-Italic *aljos ‘another’
through Proto-Italic *aliteros ‘other (of two)’
Today it means
noun Sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse. See more synonyms at Thesaurus:cuckoldry
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / adultery