bastardy
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English
Etymology
From Middle English bastardie (also as bastardrie), a borrowing from Middle French bastardie. Equivalent to bastard + -y.
Pronunciation
Noun
bastardy (countable and uncountable, plural bastardies)
- (law) The condition of being illegitimate, of being born to an unmarried woman and man or as the fruit of adultery.
- c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]:
- Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post:—
There, at your meet'st advantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward's children:
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen,
Only for saying he would make his son
Heir to the crown;—meaning, indeed, his house,
Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
the condition of being illegitimate (born to an unmarried woman and man or as the result of adultery)
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See also
Middle English
Noun
bastardy
- Alternative form of bastardie
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
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- English terms derived from Middle French
- English terms suffixed with -y
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