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bigamyBIG'AMY, n. [L.bis,twice, and Gr. to marry, marriage.] The crime of having two wives at once. But the term is ordinarily used as synonymous with Polygamy, and may be more justly defined, the crime of having a plurality of wives. In the canon law, bigamy was the marrying a second wife after the death of the first, or once marrying a widow. This disqualified a man for orders,and holding ecclesiastical offices. |