a mensa et thoro /eɪ ˈmɛnsə ˌɛt ˈθɔːɹəʊ/adjective 1adverb 1 adjective1 •(historical) That does not dissolve the marriage bond, but merely authorizes the husband and wife to live apart from each other.A divorce a mensa et thoro, obtained by the wife, is not a bar to her right of dower. — 1864 adverb1 •(historical) Such as not to dissolve the marriage bond, but merely to authorize the husband and wife to live apart from each other.By the recent statute 20 & 21 Viet c. 85, § 7, no divorce can in future be granted à mensa et thoro, but a decree of judicial separation is to be pronounced, having the like effect. — 1867
