I have been thinking about these terms (and others) a lot lately. Generally, on threads here, people use these two terms: "poly," and "monogamy."
Many are not aware that monogamy means "married to one." In Greek, gamos means marriage. So, technically, an unmarried couple who only date each other are not "monogamous." They are "monoamorous" (one love), or "monosexual" (sex with just one person at a time).
Likewise, many people are confused about "polyamory." They do not understand that "amor" means "love" in Latin. Polyamory means loving more than one. It doesn't mean having sex with more than one, or having more than one sexual partner in one's life. It doesn't mean one is promiscuous. Asexuals can be polyamorous, and never have sex.
Usually, people are lazy and just use the words "poly," and "mono." Poly just means "many." If you don't add the "amory" or "sexual" part to the word, it's basically meaningless, as far as relationships go.
Again, you're only "monogamous" if you are married, legally, to one person. If you are romantically linked to just one person, you are literally "monoamorous."
I'd kind of like to open the vocabulary to adding "monoamorous" to "polyamorous" for those of us that are not married. The opposite of "monogamous" is "polygamous," and of course, polygamy is technically illegal.
Thoughts?
Many are not aware that monogamy means "married to one." In Greek, gamos means marriage. So, technically, an unmarried couple who only date each other are not "monogamous." They are "monoamorous" (one love), or "monosexual" (sex with just one person at a time).
Likewise, many people are confused about "polyamory." They do not understand that "amor" means "love" in Latin. Polyamory means loving more than one. It doesn't mean having sex with more than one, or having more than one sexual partner in one's life. It doesn't mean one is promiscuous. Asexuals can be polyamorous, and never have sex.
Usually, people are lazy and just use the words "poly," and "mono." Poly just means "many." If you don't add the "amory" or "sexual" part to the word, it's basically meaningless, as far as relationships go.
Again, you're only "monogamous" if you are married, legally, to one person. If you are romantically linked to just one person, you are literally "monoamorous."
I'd kind of like to open the vocabulary to adding "monoamorous" to "polyamorous" for those of us that are not married. The opposite of "monogamous" is "polygamous," and of course, polygamy is technically illegal.
Thoughts?