intercourse

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in·ter·course / ˈintərˌkôrs/ • n. communication or dealings between individuals or groups: everyday social intercourse. ∎ short for sexual intercourse.ORIGIN: late Middle English (denoting communication or dealings): from Old French entrecours ‘exchange, commerce,’ from Latin intercursus, from intercurrere ‘intervene,’ from inter- ‘between’ + currere ‘run.’ The specifically sexual use arose in the late 18th cent.