[f. L. fornicāt-, ppl. stem of fornicārī of same meaning, f. fornic-, fornix brothel, originally arch, vault (see FORNIX).] intr. To commit fornication.
1552. Huloet, Fornicaten, or commit fornication or lechery, fornicor.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xxviii. Wks. (1847), 336/2. These shall hate the great Whore … and yet shall lament the fall of Babylon, where they fornicated with her.
1668. Etheredge, She wou’d if she cou’d, II. ii. We … are resolv’d to fornicate in private.
1824. Landor, Imag. Conv., I. 155. He hunted and drank and fornicated, and (some do aver) swore.
Hence Fornicating vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1620. Bp. Hall, Hon. Mar. Clergy, I. viii. 42. The Heroicall Spirit of Luther, for I cannot be flouted out of that word, hated the brothelry of their cloisters; and chose rather, which galls them to the heart, to be an honest husband than a fornicating friar.
1615. Bp. Saunderson, Twelve Serm. (1637), 207. Their fornicating both bodily with the daughters, and spiritually with the Idols of Moab and of Midian.
