marry English · revision 5534

+ {{homograph|1|wed}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la marītus}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈmær.i/, US /ˈmer.i/, /ˈmær.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|marien]], [[bor|fro|marier|t=to marry, give in marriage]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|marītāre|t=to wed, give in marriage]], from [[m|la|marītus|t=married; husband]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is perhaps “provided with a young woman”, from [[ine-pro|*mari-|t=young wife, young woman]], also the source of Welsh merch “daughter”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and akin to Sanskrit márya- “young man, suitor”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of parents or guardians, to give in marriage, and in the passive, to be joined in marriage: 1297.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To take someone as husband or wife is from the early 14th century, and to become husband and wife from the late 14th.^(Etymonline) Of a priest who performs the rite it is from 1530.^(OED 1989) ''Marry money'', to get wealth by marrying, is from 1858.^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, to join closely or combine, came later, and in sailing it means to join two ropes by interweaving their strands.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Marry in haste and repent at leisure'' is from the late 16th century.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – to give in marriage; to be married.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 14th century – to take as a spouse.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530 – of the priest.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1858 – ''marry money''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To take someone as one's husband or wife; to [[wed]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To join two people in [[marriage]], as a priest or official does.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give a son or daughter in marriage.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To combine two things closely or well.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ {{homograph|2|interjection}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=eponym|attested=c. 1350}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmær.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The exclamation is Middle English Marie, an oath by the name of the Virgin [[Mary]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) Once that meaning was forgotten, the spelling changed, as in [[marigold]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An exclamation of surprise or indignation, or a word of emphasis, often in answer to a question: about 1350.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a common oath in the Middle Ages and after, meaning “indeed, forsooth”.^(Etymonline) ''Marry come up'', expressing indignant or amused surprise, arose in the 16th century from oaths by Mary Gipsy (the Egyptian), whose added gip and gup were also calls to horses.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) It is now archaic and dialectal.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – an oath or exclamation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 16th century – ''marry come up''.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(archaic)'' Indeed; an [[exclamation]] of surprise, anger or emphasis.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[marriage]]

+ * [[marital]]

+ * [[married]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}