Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- v. To carry on a sexual affair, especially an extramarital affair, with a woman one cannot or does not intend to marry. Used of a man.
- v. To engage in many love affairs, especially with a frivolous or casual attitude. Used of a man.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A lover.
- n. In zoology, one of several different marsupial mammals. Specifically
- To play the philander; pay court to a woman, especially without serious intention; make love in a foolish way; “spoon.”
- n. A flirtation; a philandering.
- n. Same as filander.
Wiktionary
- n. A lover.
- n. A South American opossum, Didelphys philander.
- n. An Australian bandicoot, Perameles lagotis.
- v. To make love to women; to play the male flirt.
GNU Webster's 1913
- v. To make love to women; to play the male flirt.
- n. A lover.
- n. A South American opossum (Didelphys philander).
- n. An Australian bandicoot (Perameles lagotis).
WordNet 3.0
- v. have amorous affairs; of men
- v. talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions
Etymologies
- From philander, lover, from Philander, former literary name for a lover, from Greek philandros, loving or fond of men : phil-, philo-, philo- + anēr, andr-, man; see ner-2 in Indo-European roots.
Examples
“I hate to be the one to tell this woman that voles don't entertain thoughts of adultery, nor do they defend a lady vole's honor, nor do they "philander," because voles don't commit adultery, and they don't have honor.”
The Washington Post: Book review: 'For Better: The Science of a Good Marriage,' by Tara Parker-Pope
“Indeed 'philander', as a word rather than a name, has only negative connotations ...”
“But it was one thing to free a horse-thief, and another to stop and "philander" with him.”
“A constant rule of nature is that Politicians will philander, lie, cheat & steal.”
Sanford e-mail: I've 'crossed lines I never would have imagined'
“Some psychologists, though, believe they can explain why there's a steady drumbeat of news about politicians who philander, cheat, attempt to seduce, or, as in Weiner's version of what happened, ignore the potential consequences and seriousness of what he considered harmless frivolity.”
USA Today: Narcissism, risk-taking tend to drive sex scandals
“Now our television shows are filled with confused men and women who philander, masturbate, harbor homicidal thoughts if not actions, take drugs freely, have anonymous sex, sabotage others and abuse themselves.”
The Huffington Post: Mickey Becomes a Rat And We All Like It: Why Are Our Heroes All Dark?
“Think I will philander or more seriously take up philately.”
“The missing philander with the bizarre camping trip story, proved once again that history has one helluva sense of humor.”
The Huffington Post: Andy Ostroy: Is the Tea Party the New Republican "Brand?"
“College, often called "Philander College" (Web site: philander. edu).”
“Twentieth century feminism added another layer of condemnation: after all, why should men be allowed to philander while women were expected to remain faithful and stand by their (abusive, cheating) men no matter what?”
Jay Michaelson: It's Not Just Tiger: Monogamous Marriage Is An Anomaly
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