xakara

Greetings Kittens,

After last week's pause, I am back again to take you on a little journey of the sexual landscape that is humanity. This Thursday we're going to tiptoe through the Polyamory Dictionary to see what we can find. You may notice the startling lack of personally commentary. I'm feeling rather quiet this week, so "just the facts" this week. But what interesting facts they are.

Now come along Kittens and let's explore 13 Terms From The Poly Glossary.

Enjoy.

13 Poly Glossary Terms

1. ABUNDANT LOVE: The belief or philosophy that it is possible to love more than one person at the same time.

2. ADELPHOGAMY; also, FRATERNAL POLYANDRY, LEVIRATIC POLYANDRY: (Literally, adelphos brother + gamos marriage) A specific form of polyandry, practiced historically and occasionally still practiced in some portions of Tibet and Nepal, in which a set of brothers is married to the same woman.

3. AMBIGUSWEETIE: Colloquial A partner with whom one's relationship is ambiguous or not clearly defined, often intentionally; as, We are not primary partners, or secondary partners or simply friends, but rather ambigusweeties. Etymology: This term was coined by Chris Dunphy, from "ambiguous sweetie."

4. BOSTON MARRIAGE: Archaic A term used primarily in the 19th century for a household of two unmarried women who were financially and romantically independent. Today, it is generally presumed that many such arrangements were lesbian relationships.

5. CLUSTER MARRIAGE: A polyamorous relationship in which two or more married couples cohabitate and exchange partners.

6. COMPLEX MARRIAGE: A doctrine which holds that all the male members of a particular group or community are, upon joining the group, married to all the female members, and all the female members are, upon joining the group, married to all the male members.

7. CONDOM CONTRACT; also CONDOM COMPACT, CONDOM COMMITMENT: A formal agreement within a relationship to confine exchange of bodily fluids and barrier-free sexual contact to the people in that relationship, each of whom has previously been screened for sexually transmitted diseases. Condom contracts may specify under what conditions a member of that group may exchange body fluids or have sexual contact without barriers with a new partner, or may specify that such contact is not permissible with any new partner.

8. CORPORATE MARRIAGE: A group marriage whose members register the union as a legal corporation, the terms of which spell out the financial entanglements and obligations of all the members.

9. CUDDLE PARTY: Trademark A social gathering of adults which encourages consensual physical affection, such as cuddling, massage, and other forms of physical expression, but which forbids overt sexual activity or sexual stimulation. Commentary: The term "Cuddle Party" has been trademarked by Reid Mihalko, who owns a business organizing such parties in many cities, which are pay-for-attendance events.

10. CUPCAKE PARTY: Colloquial A gathering, usually involving only women and most often in a private residence, in which a group of people gather to explore their sexuality, discuss sex, experiment with sex toys, and so on. Etymology: The hostess of a cupcake party often provides refreshments, hence the name.

11. EMOTIONAL FIDELITY: A belief or practice that emotional intimacy or love must be kept exclusive to a particular relationship, though sexual activity or other forms of physical intimacy may occur outside that relationship.

12. LOVER-IN-LAW: Colloquial 1. A partner of one's partner; metamour. 2. The biological family of one's partner. Commentary: In the sense of Def. 1, most often applied to a metamour with whom one has a close relationship.

13. METAMOUR: (Literally, meta with; about + amor love): The partner of one's partner, with whom one does not share a direct sexual or loving relationship.

13+1. OMNIGAMY: 1. Group marriage. 2. Of or relating to having multiple spouses of both sexes. 3. Complex marriage.

13+2. PANAMOROY: Of or relating to romantic or sexual love with partners of many sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities, and/or relationship orientations. Panamorous, of or relating to one who identifies as a person capable of romantic or sexual love with many kinds of partners regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

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