incest
pronunciation
How to pronounce incest in British English:
UK [ˈɪnsest]
How to pronounce incest in American English:
US [ˈɪnˌsɛst]
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- Noun:
- sexual intercourse between persons too closely related to marry (as between a parent and a child)
Word Origin
- incest
- incest: [13] Etymologically, incest is virtually the same word as unchaste. It was borrowed from Latin incestus, a noun use of an adjective formed from the negative prefix in- and castus ‘pure’ (source of English chaste). The Latin word denoted ‘unchastity’ in general, but in practice was often applied specifically to ‘sexual contact between close relatives’.=> chaste
- incest (n.)
- c. 1200, "the crime of sexual intercourse between near kindred," from Old French inceste and directly from Latin incestum "unchastity, impious unchastity," also specifically "sex between close relatives," noun use of neuter adjective incestus "unchaste, impure," from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + castus "pure" (see caste). In early use also in reference to sexual relations or marriage with one under a vow of chastity (sometimes distinguished as spiritual incest). Old English had sibleger "incest," literally "kin-lying."
Example
- 1. The same is true of the conception of incest .
- 2. Incest remains one of society 's last taboos and is an unthinkable concept to most people .
- 3. In chimpanzee societies , males stay where they are born and females disperse at puberty to neighboring groups , thus avoiding incest .
- 4. We know that females avoid mating with their brothers and sons , but now we 'll be able to learn whether an incest taboo exists between fathers and daughters as well .