Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The act or state of being married; marriage.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The relation of husband and wife, with especial reference to what concerns the latter; the state of marriage or wedlock; nuptial union; conjugal partnership.
  • noun The act of marriage; entrance upon the married state by a formal ceremony or procedure: as, the solemnization of matrimony by a clergyman. In the Roman Catholic Church matrimony is regarded as one of the sacraments.
  • noun Wife.
  • noun A game with cards.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The union of man and woman as husband and wife; the nuptial state; marriage; wedlock.
  • noun A kind of game at cards played by several persons.
  • noun (Bot.) a climbing thorny vine (Lycium barbarum) of the Potato family.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun marriage or the state of being married
  • noun the marriage ceremony

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
  • noun the ceremony or sacrament of marriage

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old French matrimoine, from Latin mātrimōnium, from māter, mātr-, mother; see māter- in Indo-European roots.]

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Examples

  • After all, fidelity in matrimony is voluntary, too …/sarcasm off

    Think Progress » Bush Rides Roughshod Over Protected Federal Land 2006

  • But some clergy had questioned whether church ceremonies - and the term matrimony - should be reserved for heterosexual unions.

    Latest Articles 2009

  • But some clergy had questioned whether church ceremonies - and the term matrimony - should be reserved for heterosexual unions.

    BBC (UK) Homepage main promotional content 2009

  • It had previously said that it was open to registering same-sex unions but wanted to reserve the term matrimony for heterosexual marriages.

    Latest Stories 2009

  • - 829 Telltale Signs Infidelity doesn t have to mean your matrimony is over COPING WITH INFIDELITY IN MARRIAGE Director: Harry Winer Overview That s since affairs have been so common in matrimony Greg Swenson, Ph With our guidance, learn what to do when we design your partner or associate of doubt or disloyalty as well as what to do when we want to come clean about your own affairs, either carried out in Infidelity expert Ruth Houston s comments, observations, as well as insights upon popular doubt or disloyalty issues in a headlines Coping with Infidelity: Part 1 How Do Affairs Begin?

    Infidelity ( Ucsb Gold ) Kinhd Anhra Videos admin 2009

  • - 829 Telltale Signs Infidelity doesn t have to mean your matrimony is over COPING WITH INFIDELITY IN MARRIAGE Director: Harry Winer Overview That s since affairs have been so common in matrimony Greg Swenson, Ph With our guidance, learn what to do when we design your partner or associate of doubt or disloyalty as well as what to do when we want to come clean about your own affairs, either carried out in Infidelity expert Ruth Houston s comments, observations, as well as insights upon popular doubt or disloyalty issues in a headlines Coping with Infidelity: Part 1 How Do Affairs Begin?

    Archive 2009-12-01 admin 2009

  • Traditional family values, I have taken it to mean, that the holy matrimony is sanctified.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Much Easier to Fight Caricatures 2010

  • Randy: Traditional family values, I have taken it to mean, that the holy matrimony is sanctified.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Much Easier to Fight Caricatures 2010

  • Upon my poetical veracity I do not see the strength of your objection, but as matrimony is a very tender subject, as well as a longwinded one, I had better give you Mr Pitt's answer when he did not choose to give any, 'I have not made up my mind.'

    Letter 265 2009

  • Nevertheless, GIs shared with the American home front a remarkable faith in matrimony, looking homeward for the peace, security, and affection they craved.

    Miss Yourlovin: GIs, Gender, and Domesticity during World War II 2008

Comments

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  • Funny that this is not analogous to patrimony ;-)

    July 14, 2007