Big'a-my, n.

n. [Fr. bigamie.] (Law.) The crime of having two wives or husbands at once. Blackstone.

☞ It is not strictly correct to call this offense bigamy; it is more properly denominated polygamy, i. e., having a plurality of wives or husbands at once. In the canon law, bigamy was the marrying of two virgins successively, or one after the death of the other, or once marrying to a widow. This disqualified a man for orders, and holding ecclesiastical offices. Shakespeare uses the word in the latter sense. “Base declension and loathed bigamy.” Shak. Blackstone. Bouvier.