monogynous
/mɔ'nɔdʤinəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- having one head or chief wife at a time (along with concubines)