\Big"a*my\, n. [OE. bigamie, fr. L. bigamus twice
married; bis twice + Gr. ? marriage; prob. akin to Skt.
j[=a]mis related, and L. gemini twins, the root meaning to
bind, join: cf. F. bigamie. Cf. {Digamy}.] (Law)
The offense of marrying one person when already legally
married to another. --Wharton.
Note: It is not strictly correct to call this offense bigamy:
      it more properly denominated polygamy, i. e., having a
      plurality of wives or husbands at once, and in several
      statutes in the United States the offense is classed
      under the head of polygamy. In the canon law bigamy was
      the marrying of two virgins successively, or one after
      the death of the other, or once marrying a widow. This
      disqualified a man for orders, and for holding
      ecclesiastical offices. Shakespeare uses the word in
      the latter sense. --Blackstone. --Bouvier.
            Base declension and loathed bigamy. --Shak.