marriage

B1 Topic:Family & Relationships

US /ˈmæɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/ UK /ˈmæɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/ See IPA manual

Freq #843

Meanings

1

noun
The legal or formal union of two people as partners for life.

They have a long and happy marriage.
2

noun
The ceremony in which two people get married.

You are invited to the marriage of James and Jane.
3

noun
A close combination or union of two things.

Their music is a clever marriage of jazz and rock.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the legal or formal union... matrimony wedlock

2 noun · the ceremony in which two... marriage ceremonywedding

Opposites

divorce

Word family

Forms maritalmarriageablemarriages

Derived forms antimarriagecybermarriageextramarriagefrank-marriagehetero-marriageheteromarriagehomomarriageinmarriageinter-marriageintermarriageintra-marriageintramarriage

Related forms adelphogamybigamycohabitationdivorce marry matrimony monogamy polyandry polygamypolygynywedding

Appears in

Phrases (11)

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arranged marriage
a marriage set up by the families of the couple rather than by the couple themselves

Adjective + noun
failed marriage
a marriage that ended in divorce or separation

Adjective + noun
happy marriage
a marriage characterized by contentment and mutual satisfaction

Adjective + noun
arrange a marriage
organize a marriage between two people, typically by their families

Verb + noun
end a marriage
bring a marriage to its conclusion through separation or divorce

Verb + noun
propose marriage
formally ask someone to marry you

Verb + noun

Idioms (1)

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marriage of convenience
an often temporary alliance entered for practical advantage, without emotional attachment or genuine common purpose

Proverbs (3)

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Etymology

From Middle English mariage, from Old French mariage, from marier (“to marry”), from Latin marītō (“marry”, verb, literally “give in marriage”), from marītus (“lover”, “nuptial”), from mas (“male, masculine, of the male sex”). Equivalent to marry + -age. Doublet of maritage. Displaced native Old English sinsċipe.

mariage Middle English marītō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Family & Relationships Register & Style

External links

# marriage

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmæɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmæɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/
**Frequency rank:** 843

## Meanings
1. The legal or formal union of two people as partners for life.
2. The ceremony in which two people get married.
3. A close combination or union of two things.

## Examples
- They have a long and happy marriage.
- You are invited to the marriage of James and Jane.
- Their music is a clever marriage of jazz and rock.

## Synonyms
- matrimony
- wedding

## Antonyms
- divorce

## Derived Forms
- antimarriage
- cybermarriage
- extramarriage
- frank-marriage
- hetero-marriage
- heteromarriage
- homomarriage
- inmarriage
- inter-marriage
- intermarriage
- intra-marriage
- intramarriage

## Related Forms
- adelphogamy
- bigamy
- cohabitation
- divorce
- marry
- matrimony
- monogamy
- polyandry
- polygamy
- polygyny
- wedding

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: mariage
- Root: marītō
- Affix: -age - action

## Etymology
From Middle English mariage, from Old French mariage, from marier (“to marry”), from Latin marītō (“marry”, verb, literally “give in marriage”), from marītus (“lover”, “nuptial”), from mas (“male, masculine, of the male sex”). Equivalent to marry + -age. Doublet of maritage. Displaced native Old English sinsċipe.

## AI Etymology
Marriage comes from Middle English mariage, from Old French mariage, from marier (“to marry”), from Latin marītō (“marry”, verb, literally “give in marriage”), from marītus (“lover”, “nuptial”), from mas (“male, masculine, of the male sex”). Equivalent to marry + -age. Doublet of maritage. In present-day English its meanings include the legal or formal union of two people as partners for life, the ceremony in which two people get married, and a close combination or union of two things. The historical chain runs through mariage (Middle English), mariage (Old French), and marītō (Latin). Related and derived forms include adelphogamy, bigamy, cohabitation, and antimarriage.

## Topics
- Family & Relationships
- Register & Style

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marriage

Meanings

Thesaurus

Appears in

Phrases (11)

Idioms (1)

Proverbs (3)

Etymology

Topics

External links

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