Forms: 4–5 avou-, avow- -terer, -terere, -tereer, -trer, -trere, -treer; 4–7 avouterer; 5–7 advou-, advow- -terer, -trer, etc.; 6 advoterer, advoulterer, aduoulterer, adoulterer; 6– adulterer. [f. avouter, ADULTER v. + -ER1, term. of male agent. Cf. rare OFr. avoutrier and fem. avoltreresse. (For the gradual change of the word under L. influence from avouterer to adulterer, see ADULTER sb. and v.) Already in Wyclif interchanged with the earlier avouter, and in the middle of 17th c. adulter-er (in its various forms), more distinctly expressing the agent, displaced adulter and its forms. Cf. cater-er, fripper-er, sorcer-er, and see -ER1.]
1. One who commits adultery; who violates a marriage-bed, whether his own or another’s.
c. 1370. Wyclif, Agst. Begging Friers (1608), 53. If there be anie cursed Jurour, extortioner or avowtrer. Ibid. (1382), Ps. xlix. 18. With avoutereres thi porcioun thou leidist. Ibid., Deut. xxii. 22. Eyther shal die, that is the auowtreer and the auowtresse [1388 auowter and auowtresse].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., 805 (Petw. MS.). Þise aduoutrers breken þe temple of god spiritually [other MSS. avowtiers, auoutyeris, aduoutres].
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xviii. 103. Summe ben founde … to be greet lecchouris, summe to be avoutreris.
1509. Barclay, Ship of Fooles (1570), 65. Keping the dore while the auoutrer is within.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. vi. 106. The sle adultrare occupiis his stede.
1535. Coverdale, Job xxiv. 15. The aduouterer, that wayteth for the darcknesse.
1541. Barnes, Wks., 1573, 319/1. Certayne men doe affirme those men to bee aduoulterers.
1549. Prayer-Bk., Exhort. at Comm. If any here be a blasphemer, aduouterer [1552 adulterer], or bee in malyce or envie.
c. 1585. Pilkington, Wks., 1841, 642. And called him proud, advoterer, a thief and heretic.
1611. Bible, Heb. xiii. 5. Whoremongers and adulterers [Wycl. auoutreris (auouteris), Tind. advoutrars, Cranm. aduoutrers, Genev., Rhem. aduouterers] God will judge.
1629. Coke, 1st Pt. of Instit., 72 b. If shee goeth willingly with or to the auowtrer.
1653. Baxter, Chr. Conc., 70. Hereticks, Advouterers, Church-robbers.
1686. Dryden, Hind & P., III. 1216. Reeking from the stews, adulterers come.
1708. Termes de la Ley, 68. Avowterer is an Adulterer with whom a married woman continues in Adultery.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 306 (transl. Sueton.). This husband or adulterer of three queens [Felix].
b. Also of a woman = ADULTERESS.
c. 1550. Cheke, Matt. v. 32. Whosoever divorceth his wife, except it be for fornications cause, doth mak her an adulterer.
1557. N. T. (Genev.), Rom. vii. 3. She shal be called an adulterer.
† 2. One who adulterates, corrupts or debases; an ADULTERATOR. Obs. rare.
1650. Urquhart, Rabelais (1807), III. 295. Usurers, apothecaries, cheats, coiners, and adulterers of wares.
