BISEXUAL/BI- (bi=two) A lovestyle orientation in which sexualove is experienced both between members of the same and opposite sexes.

CELLULAR FAMILY- A multi adult family whose structure allows new partners to be added to the family with mutual consent.

CHURCH- A body of adherents to the same religion.

CHURCH OF ALL WORLDS- A Neo Pagan religion founded in 1962 and incorporated March 4, 1968. Taking its name and much of its founding philosophy from Robert Heinlein’s 1961 novel, Stranger in a Strange Land, CAW is inspired by science fiction as mythology, and is dedicated to the celebration of Life, the maximal actualization of human potential, and the realization of ultimate individual freedom and personal responsibility in harmonious eco psychic relationship with the total biosphere of Holy Mother Earth.

CLAN- An extended family, including secondary and tertiary relationships, who regard themselves as a clan.

CLOSED - A relationship is closed if there is an agreement among the members to not get sexually and/or romantically involved with anyone outside the relationship. A monogamous relationship is a closed two-person relationship.

CLOSED/EXCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIP- A sexualove relationship in which the partners have agreed to have no other lovers outside of the relationship.

CO WIFE, CO HUSBAND- Terms used to describe one’s other partners in a group marriage.

COURTING- The process by which people explore how it feels to form or join in a committed relationship. syn. dating

COMPERSION- Warm happy feelings experienced when noticing ones loved ones enjoying loving relationships with others. The opposite of jealousy.

CONDOM COMMITMENT- An agreement to confine exchange of bodily fluids and barrier-free intercourse among all the members of any open sexualove relationship group that all partners be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, and that condoms be used with any lovers outside of the group.

CORPORATE MARRIAGE- A group marriage that is legally structured and registered as a corporate entity, whether a DBA, Partnership, Trust, Corporation or other legal form

DIVINITY- The fullest level of aware consciousness accessible to any living being, manifesting itself in the self actualization of that being.

DYAD- A sexualove relationship consisting of two primary partners.

EXPANDED FAMILY- A lovestyle in which three or more partners consciously chose each other as family. Partners may or may not live together. These is the potential for all family members to be sexual with eachother if they mutually chose to do so, but this is not a requirement for family membership. syn Intentional family.

FAMILY- A group of adults and/or children bound together by ties of mutual commitment, primary relationships, intimacy and shared lives, and regarding themselves as a family.

FREEMATE, PARAMOUR, CONSORT- Terms used to describe nonmarried members of a MultiMate relationship.

GROUP MARRIAGE- Marriage in which three or more partners are married to each other. Not legally recognized in the U.S. or by most major religions in western society. Many people do it anyway, often making legal agreements that function similarly to the legalities in a usual marriage. A group marriage may be open, closed or inclusive.

HETEROSEXUAL/STRAIGHT- (hetero=different) A lovestyle orientation in which sexualove is experienced only between members of opposite sexes.

HOMOSEXUAL/GAY or LESBIAN- (homo=same) A lovestyle orientation in which sexualove is experienced only between members of the same sex.

INCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIP- A lovestyle in which all partners agree to include more lovers into their relationship.

INTIMATE NETWORK (INTINET)- A polyamorous lovestyle in which several ongoing relationships coexist. There can be a mix of primary, secondary, and tertiary relationship coexist.

JEALOUS- Resentfully envious or suspicious of rival influences.

JEALOUSY- Neurotic anxiety based on fear of losing control over a partner one regards as a possession.

LINE MARRIAGE- An inclusive group marriage designed to continue in perpetuity as new members may be added by mutual consent of the existing partners, replacing any who leave or die. (Robert A. Heinlein)

LOVE- That condition wherein the other person’s happiness is essential to your own. (Robert A. Heinlein, SISL)

LOVESTYLE- The design of a sexualove relationship style. Like the term "lifestyle," it implies a conscious choice.

MARRIAGE- A contractually committed partnership, including sexualove, cohabitation, shared economy/property and mutual childrearing.

MONOGAMOUS- Inclined, capable and desiring of sexual exclusivity in a marriage with a single partner.

MONOGAMY- (mono=one; gamy=marriage) The practice or state of being married to only one person at a time. Sexual exclusivity is implied.

MULTIMATE RELATIONSHIP- Similar to an inclusive relationship or expanded family, but all partners are primary, whether or not they are married.

 NON MONOGAMY- (see Polyamory) Any lovestyle which allows more than one sexualoving relationship at the same time.

OPEN - A relationship is open if there is an agreement among the members that it is acceptable to get sexually and/or romantically involved outside of the relationship. Specific rules within a relationship about such involvement are usually negotiated to best fit the people in the relationship.

OPEN GROUP MARRIAGE- A marriage of three or more partners that is not sexually exclusive, but permits partners to have other outside lovers.

OPEN MARRIAGE- A marriage of two partners that is not sexually exclusive, but permits either or both partners to have other lovers outside of the primary relationship within the marriage.

OPEN RELATIONSHIP- A sexualove relationship in which the partners have agreed that each may independently form outside sexualove relationships.

PAGAN- (Latin paganus=peasant or country dweller) Of or pertaining to indigenous (native) pantheistic folk religions and peoples. A person who worships nature, considers life to be sacred, and identifies with others who accept the label of Pagan.

PANGENDER- Someone who acknowledges that there are no absolutes on the sexuality/gender identity spectrum

PANSEXUAL- attracted to all sexes. A sexuality that has many different forms, objects, and outlets.

PLURAL MARRIAGE- A term often applied to old-Mormon style polygyny (plural marriages are no longer accepted in the Mormon Church). All wives may live together, or each may have her own home.

POLYAMOROUS- Inclined, capable and desiring of having multiple sexualove partners at the same time. (Morning Glory Zell)

POLYAMORY -(poly=many; amor=love) "many loves". A lovestyle that arises from the understanding that love can not be forced to flow, or not flow, in any particular direction. Polyamory emphasizes consciously choosing how many partners one wishes to engage with rather then accepting social norms which dictate loving only one person at a time. An umbrella term that includes open marriage, group marriage, expanded family and intimate networks.

The practice of loving multiple partners emotionally, spiritually and sexually; at the same time, consensualy and honestly.

POLYANDRY- (poly=many; andro=man) Having more than one husband. In which one woman has two or more husbands at the same time.

POLYFIDELITY- (poly=many; fidelis=faithful) The state or practice of sexual exclusivity among a group of three or more primary partners. a closed relationship involving more than two people. The members of a group marriage limiting their sexual/romantic involvement to members of the group.

POLYGAMOUS- Inclined, capable and desiring of marriage with several partners at the same time.

 POLYGAMY- (poly=many; gamy=marriage) The practice or state of being married to two or more partners at the same time. No limitations are implied as to the sex or number of the partners. The generic term for group marriages. Having more than one spouse.

POLYGYNY- (poly=many; gyno=woman) In which one man has two or more wives at the same time.

PRIMARY RELATIONSHIP- The relationship(s) which is (are) the most important and typically involve a high degree of commitment a long term, sexualove relationship which may or may not include marriage and/or shared economy.

PROMISCUOUS- (pro=forth; miscere=to mix) Engaging in casual sexual relations with many persons indiscriminately.

RELIGION- (Latin religio=re linking) A body of expressions of sacred myths, metaphors, observances and practices in a given cultural context designed to connect individuals with Divinity and heal the alienation between polarized aspects of existence.

SAFE SEX - Also known as safer sex. Ways of being sexual while trying to minimize the odds of contracting

STD- (sexually transmitted diseases), particularly AIDS. This is done by minimizing the exchange of bodily fluids (especially semen, vaginal secretions, and blood), usually by using latex barriers such as condoms and dental dams for intercourse and oral sex, and/or by limiting sexual practices to less risky ones (e.g. mutual masturbation).

SECONDARY RELATIONSHIP- An ongoing emotional and/or sexual relationship(s), in which the partners usually do not live together, but with a lesser degree of commitment than a primary relationship.

SERIAL MONOGAMY- The most common lovestyle in the US today. Consists of being married to one partner at a time with frequent changes in partners.

Sex Negative - An word often used to describe people who think of sexuality in general, or any sexuality different from their own as dirty or sinful.

Sex Positive - An word often used to describe people who are comfortable with their own sexuality and sexuality in general.

SEXUALOVE- The synergic fusing of love and sexuality into a single erotic emotion in an intimate relationship.

SPIRITUALITY- One’s personal attitudes, practices, observances and relationships with the non material realm apart from any cultural context.

SWAPPING- A form of swinging in which two or more primary partnered couples exchange partners for recreational sex.

SWINGING- Sport sex for couples. A form of non sexually exclusive monogamy in which two primary partners agree to have casual sex with other couples or singles as long as there is no emotional involvement.

Tertiary Relationships - A lovestyle where partners spend time together once in a while or for a brief time. Their contact may be very intimate, but they are not an important part of eachother’s day to day life. Emotional and/or sexual relationship(s) with little or no ongoing involvement.

TRIAD- The most basic and common form of multipartner relationship, consisting of three adult primary partners, usually two of one sex and one of the other.

TRIBE- An affiliation of families and clans sharing common values, customs and traditions, and regarding themselves as a tribe.

TRISEXUAL- The sexual orientation of a person who prefers to have sex with two or more other partners simultaneously.