Adelphogamy
/əˌdɛlfoʊˈɡæmi/noun
Marriage between siblings, especially a brother and sister.
Did you know?Adelphogamy is associated with dynastic sibling marriage in ancient Egypt, particularly among Ptolemaic rulers who used it to reinforce royal succession and divine ancestry.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*delbʰ-
“A reconstructed root associated with the womb or uterus”
Ancient Greek
Greek
δελφύς (delphys)
“Womb or uterus”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀδελφός (adelphos)
“Brother; literally understood as one from the same womb”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γάμος (gamos)
“Marriage or wedding”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀδελφογαμία (adelphogamia)
“Marriage between siblings”
19th Century
English
adelphogamy
“The practice or condition of sibling marriage”
Modern English
English
adelphogamy
“Marriage between siblings, especially brother-sister marriage”