polygamy/polyandry/polygyny

Zziggi

Just want to pick your brains.... i've done some online searches and they are oming up with results contrary to what i know is true so i want to ask you lot the answer....

What is the differences between polyandry, polygamy, polygyny.

One is a person married to more than one husband (polyandry)

The 2 i have got mixed up on are...

One is married to more than one wife

One is a man married to more than one wife OR a woman married to more than one husband (i.e. the umbrella term for multiple marriages)

Thanks

mrs-d_3

polygamy, n. custome of being married to several persons at a time ( polygamist)
polyandry - polygamy in which a woman has more than one husband
polygyny - polygamy in which a man has more than one wife
this is from Oxford dict.:p

[Deleted User]

Polygamy - Person with many spouses
Polyandry - Woman with many husbands
Polygyny - Man with many wives



"polygamy
1591, from L.L. polygamia, from Late Gk. polygamia "polygamy," from polygamos "often married," from polys "many" + gamos "marriage" (see gamete). Not etymologically restricted to marriage of one man and multiple women (technically polygyny), but often used as if it were."