Digamy

/daɪˈɡæmi/ noun

Definition

The condition of being married twice in succession, either after the death of a spouse or after divorce.

Etymology

From di- (two) + -gamy (marriage), from Greek gamos. The term developed in ecclesiastical Latin to describe remarriage in religious and legal contexts.

Kelly Says

Digamy was so controversial in early Christianity that St. Jerome criticized remarried widows harshly—yet even he acknowledged the right to remarry, making digamy a fascinating window into ancient sexual ethics.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Digamy (remarriage after death or divorce) carried gendered moral weight, especially regarding widows; cultural norms often restricted women's remarriage while permitting men's, enforced through religious and legal systems.

Inclusive Usage

Use descriptively for any person marrying more than once, without moral framing tied to gender expectations.

Inclusive Alternatives

["remarriage","second marriage"]

Empowerment Note

Women historically denied remarriage rights or socially condemned for remarrying; today recognize all people's equal choice to remarry.

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