a mensa et thoro

(eɪ ˈmɛnsə ɛt ˈθɔːrəʊ)

adj

(Law) law denoting or relating to a form of divorce in which the parties remain married but do not cohabit: abolished in England in 1857

[Latin: from table and bed]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

References in periodicals archive

However, as we all know, sometimes it is simply impossible for a marriage to continue, so the acceptable out was a legal separation called divorce a mensa et thoro, a divorce from bed and board.

Matrimonial Matters: The taxman cometh

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