incest

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in·cest

(ĭn′sĕst′)

1. Sexual relations between persons who are so closely related that their marriage is illegal or forbidden by custom.

2. The crime of sexual relations with a person defined by statute as too closely related.

[Middle English, from Latin incestum, from neuter of incestus, impure, unchaste : in-, not; see in-¹ + castus, pure, chaste; see kes- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

incest

(ˈɪnsɛst)

sexual intercourse between two persons commonly regarded as too closely related to marry

[C13: from Latin incestus incest (from adj: impure, defiled), from in-¹ + castus chaste]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

in•cest

(ˈɪn sɛst)

n.

1. sexual relations between persons so closely related that they are forbidden by law or religion to marry.

2. the crime of sexual relations, cohabitation, or marriage between such persons.

[1175–1225; Middle English < Latin incestus (n.) sexual impurity, derivative of incestus (adj.) profane, sexually impure =in- in-³ + castus chaste]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

incest - sexual intercourse between persons too closely related to marry (as between a parent and a child)

criminal congress, unlawful carnal knowledge - forbidden or tabu sexual intercourse between individuals

Translations

Inzest

αιμομιξία

insestisukurutsaus

inceste

incesto

инцест

incest

[ˈɪnsest] N → incesto m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

incest

[ˈɪnsɛst] n → inceste m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

incest

n → Inzest m, → Blutschande f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

incest

[ˈɪnsɛst] n → incesto

in·cest

n. incesto.

incest

n incesto

References in classic literature ?

I mean those which are awake when the reasoning and human and ruling power is asleep; then the wild beast within us, gorged with meat or drink, starts up and having shaken off sleep, goes forth to satisfy his desires; and there is no conceivable folly or crime-- not excepting incest or any other unnatural union, or parricide, or the eating of forbidden food--which at such a time, when he has parted company with all shame and sense, a man may not be ready to commit.

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As if, when the marriage institution is abolished, concubinage, adultery, and incest, must not necessarily abound; when all the rights of humanity are annihilated, any barrier remains to protect the victim from the fury of the spoiler; when absolute power is assumed over life and liberty, it will not be wielded with destruc- tive sway!

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Murder and incest, deeds of horror, all Thou blurtest forth against me, all I have borne, No willing sinner; so it pleased the gods Wrath haply with my sinful race of old, Since thou could'st find no sin in me myself For which in retribution I was doomed To trespass thus against myself and mine.

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"Confessing Incests: Legal Erasures and Literacy Celebrations in Medieval France." Comparative Literature Studies 32.2 (1995): 280-95.

Gravdal, "Confessing Incests: Legal Erasures and Literary Celebrations in Medieval France," Comparative Literature Studies 32.2 (1995): 280-295.

Florence's incest is a political one: the attempt to seduce the Pope, as "pater patrum," against her own mother Rome.

Gianni Schicchi falsified a legal will, thus breaking juridical laws, and Myrrha committed incest, thus breaking natural laws, and both went against social rules, counterfeiting their identities.