bastardy

English

Etymology

From Middle English bastardie (also as bastardrie), a borrowing from Middle French bastardie. Equivalent to bastard +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbæstə(ɹ)di/, /ˈbɑːstə(ɹ)di/

Noun

bastardy (countable and uncountable, plural bastardies)

1. (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

• bastardy bond

Related terms

• bastard

Translations

the condition of being illegitimate (born to an unmarried woman and man or as the result of adultery)

• Middle English: bastardie

See also

• bastardhood
• bastardship

Middle English

Noun

bastardy

1. Alternative form of bastardie