Marriage
/ˈmær.ɪdʒ/noun
The legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship.
Did you know?The word comes through Old French from Latin *maritāgium*, ultimately tied to *maritus* (“husband”), and its history reflects marriage as a social contract long before modern love-language took over.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mari- / *mery-
“to be pleasing, beloved, or associated with a spouse”
Latin
Latin
maritus
“a husband; married man”
Late Latin
Latin
maritāgium
“marriage; the state of being married”
Old French
Old French
mariage
“marriage; wedding”
Middle English
English
mariage
“marriage; wedlock”
Modern English
English
marriage
“the state or ceremony of being married”