Legal Definitions - adulter

An adulter refers to a man who has committed adultery. Historically, particularly within the framework of Roman law, this term specifically designated the male participant in an act of sexual intercourse with a married woman who was not his wife. The legal implications and penalties for an adulter varied significantly depending on the specific historical legal system and era.

• Example 1: In ancient Rome, if a married woman named Julia was discovered to have engaged in a sexual relationship with a man named Lucius, who was not her husband, Lucius would be legally identified as an adulter. Under Roman law, this designation carried specific legal consequences for Lucius, potentially including severe penalties depending on the circumstances and the social status of those involved.

  Explanation: This example illustrates the term by placing it directly in its historical Roman law context, showing a man (Lucius) committing adultery with a married woman (Julia) and thus being labeled an adulter.

• Example 2: A historical legal treatise from the 16th century, discussing marital offenses and drawing on classical legal principles, might describe a scenario where a nobleman, Lord Edward, was found to have had an affair with Lady Catherine, who was married to another lord. The treatise could refer to Lord Edward as the adulter when detailing the legal and social repercussions he faced for his actions against the sanctity of marriage.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates the term's use in a historical legal discussion to specifically identify a man (Lord Edward) who engaged in an extramarital affair with a married woman, reflecting the gender-specific nature of the term.

• Example 3: In a modern academic paper analyzing the legal status of men in ancient Roman society, a scholar might discuss the case of a man named Quintus who was prosecuted for having an illicit relationship with a married woman. The paper would use the term adulter to precisely describe Quintus's legal role and the specific charges or social ostracism he would have faced under the prevailing statutes of the time, highlighting the legal distinction applied to men in such situations.

  Explanation: This example shows the term being used in an analytical context to describe a historical figure's legal status as a man who committed adultery, emphasizing the specific legal designation for the male participant.