mar|riage

mar|riage: mar|riage «MAR ihj», noun.

1. the act or fact of living together as husband and wife; relation between husband and wife; married life; wedlock: »We wished the bride and groom a happy marriage. [Their] marriage certainly did not seem made in heaven (Time).

2. the condition of being a husband or wife.

3. the ceremony of being married; a marrying; a wedding.

4. Figurative. a close union: »the marriage of music and drama in opera. The marriage of words and melody in that song was unusually effective.

5. the king and queen of the same suit in pinochle, bezique, and some other card games.

6. the merger of two business firms, or the acquisition of one by the other: »This major bank marriage is the fourth in less than six months (Wall Street Journal).

╂[< Old French marriage < marier; see etym. under marry¹ (Cf. ↑marry)]

Synonym Study 1, 2, 3 Marriage, matrimony, wedding mean the state of being married or the act of marrying. Marriage emphasizes the legal union of a man and woman: »The marriage took place on June 26, 1975.
Matrimony is the formal and religious word, and applies especially to the spiritual or religious bond established by the union: »They were wedded in holy matrimony.
Wedding is the common word for the ceremony or celebration: »It was a beautiful wedding.

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mar´riage|a|ble|ness — mar|riage|a|ble «MAR ih juh buhl», adjective. fit for marriage; old enough to marry: »a girl of marriageable age. SYNONYM(S): nubile. –mar´riage|a|ble|ness, noun … Useful english dictionary
mar|riage|a|ble — «MAR ih juh buhl», adjective. fit for marriage; old enough to marry: »a girl of marriageable age. SYNONYM(S): nubile. –mar´riage|a|ble|ness, noun … Useful english dictionary
mar|riage|a|bil|i|ty — «MAR ih juh BIHL uh tee», noun. the condition of being marriageable … Useful english dictionary
in|ter|mar|riage — «IHN tuhr MAR ihj», noun. 1. marriage between members of different families, tribes, religions, or racial groups. 2. marriage between close blood relations within a family, clan, or other group … Useful english dictionary
mis|mar|riage — «mihs MAR ihj», noun. an unsuitable marriage; unwise marriage; mismatch … Useful english dictionary
re|mar|riage — «ree MAR ihj», noun. any marriage after one s first one; second or subsequent marriage: »A special commission of the United Lutheran Church of America…called for a relaxation of the church s strict laws on divorce, remarriage, and birth control… … Useful english dictionary
un|mar|riage|a|ble — «uhn MAR uh juh buhl», adjective. 1. not fit to be married. 2. too young for marriage … Useful english dictionary
mar·riage·able — /ˈmerıʤəbəl/ adj : able to marry or suitable for marriage a woman of marriageable age [=a woman who is old enough to marry] … Useful english dictionary
mar — al·me·mar; an·thra·co·mar·ti; ar·mar·i·um; bo·mar·ea; cal·a·mar·i·a·ce·ae; car·mar·then·shire; col·mar; co·mar·ca; com·pri·mar·io; con·val·la·mar·in; cu·cu·mar·ia; dam·mar; dec·u·mar·ia; de·mar·cate; de·mar·ca·tion; de·mar·ca·tor;… … English syllables
riage — car·riage; car·riage·a·ble; mar·riage; mar·riage·abil·i·ty; mar·riage·able; … English syllables

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mar|riage

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mar|riage

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