c. 1300, "action of marrying, entry into wedlock;" also "state or condition of being husband and wife, matrimony, wedlock;" from Old French mariage "marriage; dowry" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *maritaticum (11c.), from Latin maritatus, past participle of maritatre "to wed, marry, give in marriage" (see marry (v.)). The Vulgar Latin word also is the source of Italian maritaggio, Spanish maridaje.
Meaning "a union of a man and woman for life by marriage, a particular matrimonial union" is early 14c. Meanings "the marriage vow, formal declaration or contract by which two join in wedlock;" also "a wedding, celebration of a marriage; the marriage ceremony" are from late 14c. Figurative use (non-theological) "intimate union, a joining as if by marriage" is from early 15c.
[W]hen two people are under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive, and most transient of passions, they are required to swear that they will remain in that excited, abnormal, and exhausting condition until death do them part. [G.B. Shaw, preface to "Getting Married," 1908]
Marriage counseling recorded by 1939. Marriage bed, figurative of marital intercourse generally, is attested from 1580s (bed of marriage is from early 15c.).
双语例句
1. After a three-weekend courtship, Pamela accepted Randolph's proposal of marriage.
经过3个周末的追求之后，帕梅拉接受了伦道夫的求婚。
来自柯林斯例句
2. After sixteen years of marriage they have grown bored with each other.
结婚16年后，他们已经渐渐彼此厌倦了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Mr Olaechea has British residency by virtue of his marriage.
奥拉伊奇先生通过结婚而取得在英国的永久居留权。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He must have been aware that my parents' marriage was breaking up.
他一定已经知道我父母的婚姻即将破裂。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Support for monogamy and marriage was strongest among the professional classes.
