Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A holiday or trip taken by a newly married couple.
- noun An early harmonious period in a relationship.
- intransitive verb To go on a honeymoon.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To keep one's honeymoon; take a wedding-trip.
- noun The first month after marriage; the interval, of whatever length, commonly spent by a newly married couple in traveling, visiting, or other recreation, before settling down to their ordinary occupations.
- noun Hence A time of prosperity or enjoyment; an occasion of advantage.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The first month after marriage.
- noun A vacation taken together by a newly married couple, usually including a trip away from home.
- noun Any initial period of harmony after two or more people or organizations begin working together.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The period of time immediately following a
marriage . - noun A
trip taken by a newlymarried couple during this period. - noun A period of unusually mild feelings, especially immediately following the start of a new term or relationship (e.g. a newly elected politician or a new business arrangement).
- verb To have a honeymoon (a trip taken by a couple after wedding).
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb spend a holiday after one's marriage
- noun the early (usually calm and harmonious) period of a relationship; business or political
- noun a holiday taken by a newly married couple
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word honeymoon.
Examples
-
Every president before Obama has had what they call a honeymoon period.
Larry Gellman: The State of Denial Has Zero Electoral Votes -- But It Seems to Be Winning 2009
-
And maybe during what they call the honeymoon period, she could, you know, talk to the powers that be out of 500 bucks so we could go to Ikea and get some furniture.
-
And then they get married at last, and everybody comes and watches them get married, and makes more silly jokes, and they go away for what they call a honeymoon, and they tell everybody -- they shout it out in the newspapers -- _where_ they are going for their honeymoon; and then they come back and start talking about bread-sauce.
Second Plays 1919
-
Nonetheless, this is what we call the honeymoon period.
-
The "honeymoon" is over for some people (surveyed 1,136 voters, wow that's the entire state!).
-
The word "honeymoon" is traceable to a Teutonic origin.
A Manual of Etiquette with Hints on Politeness and Good Breeding Sophia Orne 1873
-
Finally, honeymoon is over and reality sets in .... and it will only get worst I would imagine.
-
The media honeymoon is starting to end ... and then we will see how many campaign promises were actually kept by 'the savior'.
-
The honeymoon: No traditional honeymoon is planned, but in October, the newlyweds will travel to China for two weeks to celebrate their marriage with more of Wendy's family and friends.
Nuptials: Wendy Zhang & Mac Hooks Post 2010
-
Well the honeymoon is over, this President now owns this nation's challanges.
whichbe commented on the word honeymoon
Derived from the Babylonians who declared mead, a honey-flavored wine, the official wedding drink, stipulating that the bride's parents be required to keep the groom supplied with the drink for the month following the wedding.
May 7, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word honeymoon
The brief period between "I do" and "you'd better."
June 16, 2009
bristol-copywriter commented on the word honeymoon
Is that right about the Babylonian mead? I haven't found a full and satisfactory etymology yet, but I've just discovered the Russian equivalent is "медовый месяц" — "honey month", so there must be a literal honey related origin?
Anyhoo, tbtabby you're probably right. I am soon to find out.
June 1, 2010
bilby commented on the word honeymoon
Congratulations b-c. Where going for honey month?
June 1, 2010
tararogers commented on the word honeymoon
I have heard whichbe 's explanation in an English class, as well, and was hoping to confirm it once again on this site. Thank you! If you happen to know the etymology for the whole nine yards I would be grateful giggling words.
July 10, 2014