Poly Definitions

Polyamory is the non-possessive, honest, responsible and ethical philosophy and practice of loving multiple people simultaneously. Polyamory emphasizes consciously choosing how many partners one wishes to be involved with rather than accepting social norms which dictate loving only one person at a time. Polyamory is an umbrella term which integrates traditional multi-partner relationship terms with more evolved egalitarian terms. Polyamory embraces sexual equality and all sexual orientations towards an expanded circle of spousal intimacy and love. Polyamory is from the root words Poly meaning many and Amour meaning love hence "many loves" or Polyamory.

Of course, love itself is a rather ambiguous term, but most polys seem to define it as a serious, intimate, romantic, or less stable, affectionate bond which a person has with another person or group of persons. This bond usually, though not necessarily, involves sex. Sexualove or eromance are other words which have been coined to describe this kind of love. Other terms often used as synonyms for polyamory are responsible, ethical or intentional non-monogamy.

from the Polyamory Society

 

Consensuality is the active collaboration for the pleasure and well-being of all concerned. In the case of polyamory, this consent often includes that of people not directly involved - primary partners, children and other parties whose lives are affected by your agreements.

Defining consent can sometimes be tricky. If someone consents under pressure, we don't think that meets the "active collaboration" criterion. And you can't consent to something you don't know about: "Well you didn't say I couldn't touch your breasts when you agreed to kiss me".

paraphrased from the Ethical Slut (recommended reading!!)

 

Comprehensive definitions list
        Some notes on poly terms and concepts

Egalitarian  - The position that there should be structurally a degree of equality in reference to access to control, influence, and direction over events that affect one's life. There should also be a degree of similarity of rights, duties, responsibilities, treatment, protection, and rewards for all members of a group, category, and society. Equality does not mean sameness, however. 

Ohio Valley Polyamory Network

"Love is living and therefore growing; love is growing and therefore expanding; there is no limit to the expansion of love, for its source is divine and thus its expansion is perfect." -Hazrat Inayat Khan, The Sufi Message

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Last revised: June 08, 2006 .