marry

marry · verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*méryos“young man”
2. Latin · derived frommarītāre“to wed”
3. Anglo-Norman · derived frommarïer
4. Middle English · inherited frommarien
5. English todaymarry

From Middle English marien, from Anglo-Norman marïer, from Latin marītāre (“to wed”), from marītus (“husband, suitor”), from mās (“man, male”), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *méryos (“young man”), same source as Sanskrit मर्य (márya, “suitor, young man”). Compare its feminine derivatives: Welsh morwyn (“girl”), merch (“daughter”), Crimean Gothic marzus (“wedding”), Ancient Greek μεῖραξ (meîrax, “boy; girl”), Lithuanian marti̇̀ (“bride”), Avestan 𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀 (maⁱriia, “yeoman”).) Displaced native Old English hīwian.

marry · interjection²

1. Middle English · inherited fromMarie
2. English todaymarry

From Middle English Marie, referring to Mary, the Virgin Mary. Mid-14th century.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. To enter into the conjugal or connubial state; to take a husband or a wife.
• from 15th c. To take as husband or wife.
• from 14th c. To arrange for the marriage of; to give away as wife or husband.
• from 16th c. To unite in wedlock or matrimony; to perform the ceremony of joining spouses; to bring about a marital union according to the laws or customs of a place.
• from 15th c. To unite; to join together into a close union.