Mär'riage, n.
(mär'rij), n. [Fr. mariage, from marier, to marry, from mari, husband; Pr. maritage, maridatge, Sp. maridage, It. maritaggio.]
Sense 1. The act of marrying, or the state of being married; union of man and woman as husband and wife; wedlock; matrimony.
Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled. Heb. xiii. 4.
Sense 2. A feast made on the occasion of a marriage.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son. Matt. xxii. 2.
Marriage favors, knots of white ribbons, or bunches of white flowers, worn at weddings.
Synonyms— Matrimony; wedlock; wedding; nuptials. — MARRIAGE, MATRIMONY, WEDLOCK. Marriage is properly the act which unites the two parties, and matrimony the state into which they enter. Marriage is, however, often used for the state as well as the act. Wedlock is the old Anglo-Saxon term for matrimony. “Hasty marriages can not be expected to produce happiness; young people who are eager for matrimony before they are fully aware of its consequences will purchase their experience at the expense of their peace.” Crabb. “The men who would make good husbands, if they visit public places, are frighted at wedlock, and resolve to live single.” Johnson.
Marriage is frequently used in forming self-explaining compounds; as, marriage-articles, marriage-bed, marriage-bell, marriage-certificate, marriage-contract, marriage-license, marriage-portion, marriage-settlement, and the like.