Hypertext Webster Gateway: "divorce"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Divorce
The dissolution of the marriage tie was regulated by the Mosaic
law (Deut. 24:1-4). The Jews, after the Captivity, were reguired
to dismiss the foreign women they had married contrary to the
law (Ezra 10:11-19). Christ limited the permission of divorce to
the single case of adultery. It seems that it was not uncommon
for the Jews at that time to dissolve the union on very slight
pretences (Matt. 5:31, 32; 19:1-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18).
These precepts given by Christ regulate the law of divorce in
the Christian Church.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Divorce \Di*vorce"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Divorced}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Divorcing}.] [Cf. F. divorcer. See {Divorce}, n.]
1. To dissolve the marriage contract of, either wholly or
partially; to separate by divorce.
2. To separate or disunite; to sunder.
It [a word] was divorced from its old sense.
--Earle.
3. To make away; to put away.
Nothing but death Shall e'er divorce my dignities.
--Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Divorce \Di*vorce"\, n. [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr.
divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate.
See {Divert}.]
1. (Law)
(a) A legal dissolution of the marriage contract by a
court or other body having competent authority. This
is properly a divorce, and called, technically,
divorce a vinculo matrimonii. ``from the bond of
matrimony.''
(b) The separation of a married woman from the bed and
board of her husband -- divorce a mensa et toro (or
thoro), ``from bed board.''
2. The decree or writing by which marriage is dissolved.
3. Separation; disunion of things closely united.
To make divorce of their incorporate league. --Shak.
4. That which separates. [Obs.] --Shak.
{Bill of divorce}. See under {Bill}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
divorce
n : the legal dissolution of a marriage [syn: {divorcement}]
v 1: part; cease or break association with; "She disassociated
herself from the organization when she found out the
identity of the president" [syn: {disassociate}, {dissociate},
{disunite}, {disjoint}]
2: get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage; "The couple
divorced after only 6 months" [syn: {split up}]
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