seduction (sedukshon)

[OF. seduction, F. séduction = Pr. seduction = Sp. seduccion = Pg. seducção = It. seduzione, The seductions of such Averroistic pantheism as was preached by heretics like Amalric of Bena. Encyc. Brit ., X. 549. 2. The act of persuading a woman to surrender her chastity. A woman who is above flattery, and despises all praise but that which flows from the approbation of her own heart, is, morally speaking, out of reach of seduction . Richardson, Clari a Harlowe. Specifically, in law: (a) The tort committed against a woman, or against her parent or master, by enticing her to surrender her chastity. (b) In some jurisdictions (by statute), the criminal offense of so doing, especially under promise of marriage.