Divorce

Divorce - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

The dissolution of the marriage tie was regulated by the Mosaic law (Deut. 24:1-4). The Jews, after the Captivity, were reguired to dismiss the foreign women they had married contrary to the law (Ezra 10:11-19). Christ limited the permission of divorce to the single case of adultery. It seems that it was not uncommon for the Jews at that time to dissolve the union on very slight pretences (Matt. 5:31, 32; 19:1-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). These precepts given by Christ regulate the law of divorce in the Christian Church.

Divorce - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

DIVORCE, n. [L. See Divert.]

1. A legal dissolution of the bonds of matrimony, or the separation of husband and wife by a judicial sentence. This is properly called a divorce, and called technically, divorce a vinculo matrimonii.

2. The separation of a married woman from the bed and board of her husband, a mensa et thoro.

3. Separation; disunion of things closely united.

4. The sentence or writing by which marriage is dissolved.

5. The cause of any penal separation.

The long divorce of steel falls on me.

DIVORCE, v.t.

1. To dissolve the marriage contract, and thus to separate husband and wife.

2. To separate, as a married woman from the bed and board of her husband.

3. To separate or disunite things closely connected; to force asunder.

4. To take away; to put away.