marriage

The story

1. Latin · derived frommarītō“marry”
2. Old French · derived frommariage
3. Middle English · inherited frommariage
4. English todaymarriage

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.

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. The state of being married.
• from 14th c. A union of two or more people that creates a family tie and carries legal, social, or religious rights and responsibilities.
• from 14th c. The union of only two people, to the exclusion of all others.
• from 14th c. The union of two people of opposite sex, to the exclusion of all others.
• from 14th c. A wedding; a ceremony in which people wed.
• from 15th c. A close union.