Wedding
/ˈwɛd.ɪŋ/noun
A marriage ceremony or the act of getting married.
Did you know?In Old English, related forms of this word were tied to the act of pledging or betrothing, showing that marriage was once framed less as romance and more as a formal binding contract.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wedʰ-
“to pledge, to promise, to lead as a bride-price or betrothal gift”
Old English
OE
wedd
“a pledge, surety, betrothal promise”
Old English
OE
weddian
“to pledge oneself, to betroth”
Middle English
ME
wedden
“to marry, to give in marriage”
14th Century
English
wedding
“the act or ceremony of marrying”
Modern English
English
wedding
“a marriage ceremony or the celebration surrounding it”