What does concubinary mean?
Concubinary is a formal adjective meaning “of or relating to concubinage.” Concubinage denotes a sexual relationship between people that is not solemnized as marriage, although historical legal systems sometimes granted such unions recognized rights or a defined social status. The word is therefore especially associated with legal, historical, religious, and sociological discussion rather than ordinary contemporary description. In use, it can characterize a relationship, household, union, arrangement, or body of law: a scholar may examine the rules governing concubinary property or inheritance. Although “concubine” can sound like a blunt modern label, “concubinary” more often functions as a technical or historical term, and its use may itself carry the implications of older legal and social hierarchies. It is consequently a useful word for reading older texts precisely, while modern speakers should be mindful that apparently historical terminology can preserve assumptions about gender, status, legitimacy, and power.
adjectiveOf or relating to concubinage, especially a sexual relationship not solemnized as marriage.
- Relating to concubinage or to a sexual relationship not solemnized as marriage.
"The historian discussed the legal consequences of a concubinary union."
"The scholar examined the concubinary household arrangements recorded in the archive."
"Roman law recognized certain concubinary relationships with legal consequences."
Concubinary preserves the unequal legal and social status that historically attached to relationships outside recognized marriage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does concubinary come from?
Concubinary came into English through Latin concubīnārius, a form meaning “of or relating to a concubine.” The underlying Latin vocabulary included concubina and concubere, “to lie together,” and also gave rise to English relatives such as concubine and concubinage. Its development reflects the long history of legal and social distinctions between formally solemnized marriage and recognized or customary non-marital unions.
How concubinary is actually used
Formal, literary, legal, historical, and relatively uncommon in contemporary neutral English. It usually characterizes a relationship, arrangement, status, or body of law rather than the person involved.
Easily confused with concubinary
Concubine is a noun naming a person who has a relationship without solemnized marriage, whereas concubinary is an adjective relating to such a relationship or status.