Word
incest
Phoneticsin·cest
US/ˈɪnˌsɛst/
UK/ɪnsˈɛst/
Definitions
01sexual relations within a family
n. sexual activity between people who are very closely related, such as parents and children or siblings.
n. sexual intercourse between persons who are related within the degrees of kinship where marriage is legally or socially prohibited.
“In many cultures, there are strict laws and social rules against incest.”
“The legal definition of incest varies significantly across jurisdictions, particularly regarding the inclusion of first cousins or relatives by marriage.”
Technical · Formal
Usage
Uncountable in general usage.
02to engage in incest
v. to have a sexual relationship with a close family member.
v. to engage in sexual activity with a close relative; this verbal form is significantly less common than the noun.
“The old play told a dark story of a king who chose to incest with his own kin.”
“The poet used the term to describe a dynasty that had incestuously maintained its bloodline for centuries.”
Archaic · Literary
Usage
Used both with and without a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“Bartók’s only opera and Stravinsky’s opera-oratorio form a challenging double-bill: serial murders, patricide and incest, blood and more blood, but gripping performances made this a powerful experience.” “This is so prevalent among mothers of incest victims that the legal community is exploring criminally charging the mothers who fail to protect their children.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin incestus. Displaced Old English mǣġhǣmed (literally “relative-sex”). Doublet of inchaste.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/incest