Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having one head or chief wife at a time (along with concubines): In the context of marriage systems, this describes a practice where a man has one principal wife, potentially alongside other secondary partners or concubines.
   • Having a single pistil: In botany, this describes a flower that possesses only one pistil or gynoecium (the female reproductive part).

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Marriage):

  • The ancient king practiced a monogynous form of marriage, with one queen and several consorts.
  • Anthropologists studied the tribe's monogynous customs.

• Adjective (Botany):

  • The botanist identified the plant as monogynous due to its single pistil.
  • Monogynous flowers are common in this family of plants.

Advanced Usage

• "Monogynous marriage": A specific term in anthropology and sociology to describe a marital structure with one principal wife.

  • The system was not strictly polygamous but rather monogynous.

• "Monogynous condition": A technical term in botanical descriptions.

  • The monogynous condition is a key characteristic for classification.

Variants and Related Words

• Monogyny (n): The practice or condition of being monogynous.

  • Monogyny can refer to either the marital system or the botanical feature.

• Monogynist (n): A person who practices or advocates for monogyny.

  • He was a monogynist, believing in the principle of one chief wife.

Synonyms

• Monogynic: Having the same meaning, especially in botanical contexts.
• Unigynous: A less common synonym meaning having a single pistil.

Antonyms

• Polygynous: Having more than one wife or multiple pistils.
  • Polygynous marriage systems contrast with monogynous ones.

Adjective

1. having one head or chief wife at a time (along with concubines)