palimony

English

Etymology

Blend of pal (“close friend”) +‎ alimony (“maintenance”). Coined by celebrity divorce lawyer Marvin Mitchelson in 1977 in suit of his client Michelle Triola Marvin against the actor Lee Marvin.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

palimony (uncountable)

1. (law) A form of alimony paid to a former partner in a nonmarital relationship.
   • 1985, Joel Schumacher, Carl Kurlander, St. Elmo's Fire (motion picture), spoken by Kevin Dolenz (Andrew McCarthy):

     Who won, huh? Nobody. Used to be sex was the only free thing, No longer. Alimony… palimony… it's all financial. Love is an illusion.

   • 2002, James A. Abrahamson, Confessions of a Diplomatic Pouch Clerk, page 192:

     Audball's latest pickup didn't seem to care where they were, or anything at all about alimony, palimony, or child support […]

Further reading

• palimony on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

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