Etymologically
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mariage

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 14:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ma.ʁjaʒ/[1]

Forms

mariage m (plural mariages)[1]

Etymology

It is from French marier + -age.[2][3][4][1] marier is from Latin marītō (“to marry, give in marriage”), from marītus (“husband”).[5] Littré cites Medieval Latin maritaticum in a text of 1062.[6]

Compare Old Occitan maridatge, Spanish maridaje and Italian maritaggio.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Couronnement de Louis (about 1135) mariage is the sacrament of the Church that sanctifies the union of man and woman, Wace (about 1145) uses it for the lawful union and the act of marrying: par mariage s'asemblerent.[2]

Semantic evolution

In the 12th century it also meant each spouse's contribution, the dowry (1160–74), a sense the AND records for Anglo-Norman as well.[2][7] By the late 15th century it named married life, and in Corneille (1643) the wedding ceremony, Bossuet uses it for the union of a soul with God.[2] Figuratively, Montaigne (1588) speaks of un tres-convenable mariage du plaisir avec la necessité, a combination of things.[8][2] Rabelais (1534) lists a game of cards called mariage, and sailors used it for the joining of two ropes (1773).[2] Phrases include contrat de mariage (1690), mariage d'argent (1830), mariage blanc (early 20th century) and le mariage de la carpe et du lapin (1934) for an ill-assorted union.[9]

Timeline

  • c. 1135 – The sacrament, Couronnement de Louis.[2]
  • c. 1145 – The union of man and wife, Wace.[2]
  • 1160–74 – “Dowry”, Wace.[2]
  • Second half of the 15th century – Married life.[2]
  • 1588 – “Combination”, Montaigne.[8]
  • 1643 – The wedding, Corneille.[2]
  • 1804 – Acte de mariage, Civil Code.[9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. marriage, the legal union of two people: mariage civil, religieux, demander en mariage.[4][1]
  2. A wedding: aller à un mariage.[1][10]
  3. Married life: vingt ans de mariage.[10][2]
  4. (figurative) A combination, blend: le mariage de deux couleurs.[2][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
  8. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)