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Commitment in Polyamorous Relationships
Appendix B: Glossary
The following definitions are from the Polyamory Language Page (no date).
Compersion n : the feeling of taking joy in the joy that others you love share among themselves, especially taking joy in the knowledge that your beloveds are expressing their love for one another[. T]he term was coined by the Keristan Commune in San Francisco which practiced Polyfidelity[.] Kerista disbanded in the early 1990's.
New Relationship Energy n or adj: energy that flows between partners in a "new" relationship, the excitement and discovery that occurs during this time as opposed to old relationship energy that is part of a more settled, stable, comfortable time in the relationship.
Open Relationship n : an agreement among the members in which the partners decide that they can have sexual relations outside of the relationship. Partner[s] have agreed that they can have sexual relations independently of each other.
Polyamory n : is the nonpossessive, 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 multipartner 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.
Polyfidelity n : a group in which all partners are primary to all other partners and sexual fidelity is to the group; shared intent of a lifelong run together. More primary partners can be added with everyone's consent. The term was coined by the Kerista commune.
Poly Mantra n or v: communicate, communicate, communicate and then communicate some more.
Primary Partner n : a person of polyamorous orientation that is intimately involved in your life on day to day basis, the person [who] provide[s] emotional and economic support [with] mutual sharing of resources, goal[s] and life paths.
Primary Relationship n 1 : the closest relationship type, the person(s) given the most time, energy and priority in a person's life; includes high level of intimacy, attraction and commitment as demonstrated by marriage-level bonding (such as shared life paths, goals, parenting, economics, housing, important values, ongoing emotional support, etc.), typically includes a desire for a shared lifelong future together.
Quad n : A multiple partnered relationship with four members.
Secondary Partner n : a person of polyamorous orientation that is intimately involved in your life but usually not daily[. T]he person provide[s] emotional support [and] may or may not provide economic support[. T]here may be some sharing of resources, goal and life paths but they are few as compared to primary partners.
Secondary Relationship n : a close relationship type, by definition it is given less in terms of time, energy and priority in a person's life than any primary relationship[. I]t includes aspects of primary relating, such as sexuality and emotional support but usually involves fewer ongoing commitments as evidenced by fewer shared values, plans or financial/legal involvements[. It] may include a desire for a long term future together.
Swinging vb : Recreational sexual activity, also called "sport sex" where partner[s] or participant[s] agree to have casual sex with each other[.] There is usually no emotional involvement. A form of monogamy in which usually two primary partners agree to have casual sex with other couples or singles.
Triad n 1: any three person lovestyle. 2: three people involved in some way; most often used in a committed sense; in some cases involving ceremonies of commitment. 3: a union or group of three usu[ally] closely related persons or things.
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