adulterine

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əˈdʌltəraɪn/ UK /əˈdʌltəraɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #414157

Meanings

1

adj
historical: illegal, unauthorized, or spurious

The crown tolerated the adulterine guild only after it paid an annual fine.
2

adj
adulterated or made impure by the addition of inferior material

Inspectors seized the adulterine medicine before it reached the market.
3

adj
born from or relating to an adulterous union

The old statute imposed disabilities on an adulterine child.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · historical: illegal,... illegal unauthorized spurious

2 adj · adulterated or made impure... adulterated impure spurious

3 adj · born from or relating to an... illegitimateadulterous

Opposites

genuine lawful legitimate pure

Word family

Related forms adultery adulterate adulteration

Etymology

Borrowed through Middle French adulterin from Latin adulterinus, 'born of adultery; spurious,' from adulter, 'adulterer.' Its older legal use extended the idea of illegitimate origin to unauthorized castles, guilds, coins, and other institutions or objects.

Topics

Describing Qualities Register & Style

External links

# adulterine

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /əˈdʌltəraɪn/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈdʌltəraɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 414157

## Meanings
1. historical: illegal, unauthorized, or spurious
2. adulterated or made impure by the addition of inferior material
3. born from or relating to an adulterous union

## Examples
- The crown tolerated the adulterine guild only after it paid an annual fine.
- Inspectors seized the adulterine medicine before it reached the market.
- The old statute imposed disabilities on an adulterine child.

## Synonyms
- spurious
- illegal
- unauthorized
- adulterated
- illegitimate

## Antonyms
- genuine
- lawful
- legitimate
- pure

## Related Forms
- adultery
- adulterate
- adulteration

## Etymology
Borrowed through Middle French adulterin from Latin adulterinus, 'born of adultery; spurious,' from adulter, 'adulterer.' Its older legal use extended the idea of illegitimate origin to unauthorized castles, guilds, coins, and other institutions or objects.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Register & Style

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