bastardy
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English bastardie (also as bastardrie), a borrowing from Middle French bastardie. Equivalent to bastard + -y.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
bastardy (countable and uncountable, plural bastardies)
- (law) The condition of being illegitimate, of being born to an unmarried woman and man or as the fruit of adultery.
- c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]:
- Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post:—
There, at your meet'st advantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward's children:
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen,
Only for saying he would make his son
Heir to the crown;—meaning, indeed, his house,
Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so.
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
the condition of being illegitimate (born to an unmarried woman and man or as the result of adultery)
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See also edit
Middle English edit
Noun edit
bastardy
- Alternative form of bastardie