English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English avoutrie, from Old French avouterie, variant (perhaps influenced by vout, vut (vow)) of aouterie, aolterie, from Late Latin adulterium. Doublet of adultery, which replaced it in modern English.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

advowtry (countable and uncountable, plural advowtries)

  1. (obsolete, archaic) adultery
    • 1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 13:
      Then he turned to me and said, "O mortal, we have it in our law that, when the wife committeth advowtry it is lawful for us to slay her."

Related terms edit