Re: [UUPoly-L] definitions; A NEW WORD NEEDED

["Catherine Deville" <catdeville@cox.net>]

Desmond:
<<   The Arabic word "hareem" can also read to mean sacred -- and perhaps a
   fuller translation as "set apart due to its sacredness".>>

Interesting... can you supply the source on that etymology - I'd love to
research it further.  Is it possible to research it in English? 

<<  A more important issue: if the partners of a given mongamous
relationship are called a "couple," how do you refer to the partners of a
polyamorous configuration?>>

Within the poly community we've already developed a word which is in
somewhat common use.  We say that he plural of spouse is spice.  So at least
some of us refer to the partners in our polyamorous marriages as spice.  In
referring to the group itself, if there are three folks it's a triad, if
there are four it's a quad.  If it's beyond four (more rare, but it occurs)
they generally just use family. 

One can also say "my husbands" (when referring to the male members of one's
household) or "my wives" (when referring to the female members), and some of
us use "sister-wife" and "brother-husband" when referring to members of our
polyfamily with whom we do not share conjugal relationship. 

And within CAW we also use the term "nestmate" and "waterbrother/waterkin",
although that relationship means something to us, but not to others, and may
or may not imply poly relationship. 

NT, 
Cat