verb, adj — 2 senses
UK /ˈfɔː.nɪˌkeɪt/ · US /ˈfɔɹ.nɪˌkeɪt/
Etymology First attested in 1552; borrowed from Latin fornicātus, perfect active participle of fornicor (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from fornix (“arch, vault; brothel”). It was customary for courtesans of the era to wait for their customers out of the rain in arched passageways.
To engage in fornication.
UK /ˈfɔː.nɪ.kət/ · US /ˈfɔɹ.nɪ.kət/
Etymology First attested in 1828; from fornix + -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Biology, Natural sciences Especially Shaped like an arch or vault; resembling a fornix.
Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.