promiscuity
(prɒmɪˈskjuːɪtɪ)
[ad. F. promiscuité (1752 in Hatz.-Darm.), f. L. prōmiscu-us (see next) + -ité, -ity.]
1. The condition of being promiscuous; indiscriminate mixture, confusion; promiscuousness.
| a 1849 Poe Marginalia lxxv, The God-abstractions of the modern polytheism are nearly in as sad a state of perplexity and promiscuity as were the more substantial deities of the Greeks. 1868 W. R. Greg Lit. & Soc. Judgm. 84 Men, women, and children huddled together in dirt, disorder, and promiscuity like that of the lower animals. 1894 Queen 8 Dec. 1036/2 The average Continental traveller likes a crowd, chatter, promiscuity of acquaintanceship. |
2. Promiscuous sexual union.
| 1865 M{supc}Lennan Prim. Marriage viii. 160 Promiscuity in the connexion of the sexes. 1876 H. Spencer Princ. Sociol. (1877) I. 672 Promiscuity may be called indefinite polyandry, joined with polygyny. 1900 A. Lang Hist. Scot. I. i. 5 The natives..were in stages of culture which are not usually found associated with promiscuity or polyandry. |
| fig. 1895 Saintsbury Ess. Eng. Lit. Ser. ii. 101 The adjective wedded to its proper substantive, not indulging in unseemly promiscuity. |