Matrimony
/ˈmæ.trɪ.mə.ni/noun
The state of being married; marriage.
Did you know?In ancient Rome, marriage was seen not just as a union of lovers but as a sacred duty to produce legitimate heirs, intertwining love with societal expectations and power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*méh₂tēr
“Mother, source of life.”
Latin
Latin
matrimonium
“State of being married; literally from 'mater' (mother) and 'munus' (duty).”
Old French
Old French
matrimoine
“Marriage; derived from Latin, linking marriage with motherhood.”
Middle English
Middle English
matrimonie
“The state of being married; reflecting the bond of matrimony.”
Modern English
English
matrimony
“A formal term for marriage, emphasizing its sacred and social dimensions.”