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Glite Dictionary
criminal congress

criminal congress

9.9
Sexual activity the law makes illegal, for example sex with a close family member or with a child
  • noun
  • /ˈkrɪmɪnəl ˈkɒŋɡrɛs/
  • NSFW
translation icon : congreso criminal
  • The court found him guilty of criminal congress with a minor, leading to a lengthy prison sentence.

Examples

  • Historical records often mention cases of criminal congress that shocked communities and prompted legal changes.

  • Laws regarding criminal congress differ between countries and are often subject to debate and reform.

  • The law prohibits criminal congress in many states.

  • Criminal congress is illegal.

  • The court found him guilty of criminal congress with a minor, leading to a lengthy prison sentence.

  • Historical records often mention cases of criminal congress that shocked communities and prompted legal changes.

  • Laws regarding criminal congress differ between countries and are often subject to debate and reform.

Synonyms

unlawful carnal knowledge
vscriminal congress
  • NSFW
9.9

Sex that the law says is illegal

refers only to intercourse forbidden under the law

Surface Forms

criminal congress singular
criminal congresses plural

Morphology

criminal + congress

Although 'criminal' is transparent, the intended sense of 'congress' here (sexual intercourse) is archaic/legal and not the common meaning ('assembly' or 'legislature') known to most learners. A B1 learner knowing the constituents would likely infer 'illegal meeting' rather than the specialized sexual/legal sense, so the overall meaning is not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Criminal congress may come from old legal writing where congress meant a 'coming together' or union of two people and criminal showed that the meeting was not allowed. So, the term came to mean 'sexual intercourse that is illegal'.