Matchmaker
/ˈmætʃˌmeɪkər/noun
A person who introduces people with the aim of forming a romantic relationship or marriage.
Did you know?The word is transparently English, but its deeper power comes from “match,” which originally meant a paired equal or equivalent, so a matchmaker is literally someone who engineers a pairing.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
gemæcca
“a mate, companion, spouse, or match”
Middle English
ME
macche
“a pair, counterpart, or equal; later a contest or pairing”
Middle English
ME
maken
“to make, form, or cause”
Late Middle English
ME
macche-maker
“one who makes or arranges a match”
Modern English
English
matchmaker
“a person who arranges introductions for romance or marriage”