What Does MARRIAGE Mean?
mar·riage (mrj)
n.
The legal union of a man and woman as husband and wife.
Wedlock. A wedding.
A close union: “the most successful marriage of beauty and blood in
mainstream comics” (Lloyd Rose). Games. The combination of the king
and queen of the same suit, as in pinochle.
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[Middle English mariage, from Old French from marier, to marry; see marry1.]
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Pronunciation Key
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third
Edition
Copyright © 1996, 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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marriage \Mar"riage\, n.
[OE. mariage, F. mariage. See Marry, v. t.]
1. The act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal union of a man
and a woman for life, as husband and wife; wedlock; matrimony.
Marriage is honorable in all. --Heb. xiii. 4.
2. The marriage vow or contract. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
3. A feast made on the occasion of a marriage.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for
his son. --Matt. xxii. 2.
4. Any intimate or close union.
Marriage brokage. (a) The business of bringing about marriages. (b) The payment
made or demanded for the procurement of a marriage.
Marriage favors, knots of white ribbons, or bunches of white flowers, worn
at weddings.
Marriage settlement (Law), a settlement of property in view, and in
consideration, of marriage.
Syn: Matrimony; wedlock; wedding; nuptials.
Usage: Marriage, Matrimony, Wedlock. Marriage is properly the act which unites
the two parties, and matrimony the state into which they enter. Marriage
is, however, often used for the state as well as the act. Wedlock is the
old Anglo-Saxon term for matrimony.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA,
Inc.
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marriage n 1: state of being husband and wife; "a long and happy
marriage"; "God bless this union" [syn: matrimony, union, wedlock] 2: two
people who are married to each other; "his second marriage was happier than
the first"; "a married couple without love" [syn: married couple, man and
wife] 3: the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony; "their marriage was conducted
in the chapel" [syn: wedding, marriage ceremony] 4: a close and intimate
union; "the marriage of music and dance"; "a marriage of ideas"
Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University
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marriage was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18-24).
Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the
basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident
that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16).
This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced
(Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage
in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.).
Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosaic law and made the basis of legislation,
and continued to be practised all down through the period of Jewish histroy
to the Captivity, after which there is no instance of it on record. It seems
to have been the practice from the beginning for fathers to select wives
for their sons (Gen. 24:3; 38:6). Sometimes also proposals were initiated
by the father of the maiden (Ex. 2:21). The brothers of the maiden were also
sometimes consulted (Gen. 24:51; 34:11), but her own consent was not required.
The young man was bound to give a price to the father of the maiden (31:15;
34:12; Ex. 22:16, 17; 1 Sam. 18:23, 25; Ruth 4:10; Hos. 3:2) On these patriarchal
customs the Mosaic law made no change. In the pre-Mosaic times, when the
proposals were accepted and the marriage price given, the bridegroom could
come at once and take away his bride to his own house (Gen. 24:63-67). But
in general the marriage was celebrated by a feast in the house of the bride's
parents, to which all friends were invited (29:22, 27); and on the day of
the marriage the bride, concealed under a thick veil, was conducted to her
future husband's home. Our Lord corrected many false notions then existing
on the subject of marriage (Matt. 22:23-30), and placed it as a divine
institution on the highest grounds. The apostles state clearly and enforce
the nuptial duties of husband and wife (Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18, 19; 1 Pet.
3:1-7). Marriage is said to be "honourable" (Heb. 13:4), and the prohibition
of it is noted as one of the marks of degenerate times (1 Tim. 4:3). The
marriage relation is used to represent the union between God and his people
(Isa. 54:5; Jer. 3:1-14; Hos. 2:9, 20). In the New Testament the same figure
is employed in representing the love of Christ to his saints (Eph. 5:25-27).
The Church of the redeemed is the "Bride, the Lamb's wife" (Rev. 19:7-9).
Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
part·ner·ship (pärtnr-shp)
n.
The state of being a partner.
A legal contract entered into by two or more persons in which each agrees
to furnish a part of the capital and labor for a business enterprise, and
by which each shares a fixed proportion of profits and losses.
The persons bound by such a contract.
A relationship between individuals or groups that is characterized by mutual
cooperation and responsibility, as for the achievement of a specified goal:
Neighborhood groups formed a partnership to fight crime.
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Pronunciation Key
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third
Edition
Copyright © 1996, 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------
partnership \Part"ner*ship\, n. 1. The state or condition of being
a partner; as, to be in partnership with another; to have partnership in
the fortunes of a family or a state.
2. A division or sharing among partners; joint possession or interest.
Rome, that ne'er knew three lordly heads before, First fell by fatal partnership
of power. --Rowe.
He does possession keep, And is too wise to hazard partnership. --Dryden.
3. An alliance or association of persons for the prosecution of an undertaking
or a business on joint account; a company; a firm; a house; as, to form a
partnership.
4. (Law) A contract between two or more competent persons for joining together
their money, goods, labor, and skill, or any or all of them, under an
understanding that there shall be a communion of profit between them, and
for the purpose of carrying on a legal trade, business, or adventure. --Kent.
Story.
Note: Community of profit is absolutely essential to, though not necessary
the test of, a partnership.
5. (Arith.) See Fellowship, n., 6.
Silent partnership, the relation of partnership sustained by a person who
furnishes capital only.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA,
Inc.
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un·ion (ynyn)
n.
The act of uniting or the state of being united.
A combination so formed, especially an alliance or confederation of people,
parties, or political entities for mutual interest or benefit.
Mathematics. A set, every member of which is an element of one or another
of two or more given sets.
Agreement or harmony resulting from the uniting of individuals; concord.
See Synonyms at unity.
The state of matrimony; marriage: “The element that was to make possible
such a union was trust in each other's love” (Kate Chopin).
Sexual intercourse.
Pronunciation Key
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third
Edition
Copyright © 1996, 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------------------
union \Un"ion\ , n.
[F., from L. unio oneness, union, a single large pearl, a kind of onion,
fr. unus one. See One, and cf. Onion, Unit.] 1. The act of uniting or joining
two or more things into one, or the state of being united or joined; junction;
coalition; combination.
2. Agreement and conjunction of mind, spirit, will, affections, or the like;
harmony; concord.
3. That which is united, or made one; something formed by a combination or
coalition of parts or members; a confederation; a consolidated body; a league;
as, the weavers have formed a union; trades unions have become very numerous;
the United States of America are often called the Union. --A. Hamilton.
4. A textile fabric composed of two or more materials, as cotton, silk, wool,
etc., woven together.
5. A large, fine pearl. [Obs.]
If they [pearls] be white, great, round, smooth, and weighty . . . our dainties
and delicates here at Rome . . . call them unions, as a man would say
``singular,'' and by themselves alone. --Holland.
In the cup an union shall he throw, Richer than that which four successive
kings In Denmark's crown have worn. --Shak.
6. A device emblematic of union, used on a national flag or ensign, sometimes,
as in the military standard of Great Britain, covering the whole field;
sometimes, as in the flag of the United States, and the English naval and
marine flag, occupying the upper inner corner, the rest of the flag being
called the fly. Also, a flag having such a device; especially, the flag of
Great Britain.
Note: The union of the United States ensign is a cluster of white stars,
denoting the union of the States, and, properly, equal in number to that
of the States, displayed on a blue field; the fly being composed of alternate
stripes of red and white. The union of the British ensign is the three crosses
of St. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick in combination, denoting the union
of England, Scotland and Ireland, displayed on a blue field in the national
banner used on shore, on a red, white, or blue field in naval ensigns, and
with a white border or fly in the merchant service.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA,
Inc.
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Syn: Unity; junction; connection; concord; alliance; coalition; combination;
confederacy.
Usage: Union, Unity. Union is the act of bringing two or more things together
so as to make but one, or the state of being united into one. Unity is a
state of simple oneness, either of essence, as the unity of God, or of action,
feeling, etc., as unity of design, of affection, etc. Thus, we may speak
of effecting a union of interests which shall result in a unity of labor
and interest in securing a given object.
One kingdom, joy, and union without end. --Milton.
[Man] is to . . . beget Like of his like, his image multiplied. In unity
defective; which requires Collateral love, and dearest amity. --Milton.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA,
Inc.
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union adj 1: being of or having to do with the northern United States and
those loyal to the Union during the Civil War; "Union soldiers"; "Federal
forces"; "a Federal infantryman" [syn: Union, Federal] 2: of trade unions;
"the union movement"; "union negotiations"; "a union-shop clause in the contract"
[ant: nonunion] n 1: an organization of employees formed to bargain with
the employer; "you have to join the union in order to get a job" [syn: labor
union, trade union, trades union, brotherhood] 2: the United States during
the Civil War; "Lee hoped to detach Maryland from the Union"; "the North's
superior resources turned the scale" [syn: Union, North] 3: the act of pairing
a male and female for reproductive purposes; "the casual couplings of
adolescents"; "the mating of some species occurs only in the spring" [syn:
coupling, mating, pairing, conjugation, sexual union] 4: the state of
being united; "there is strength in union" [ant: separation] 5: state of
being husband and wife; "a long and happy marriage"; "God bless this union"
[syn: marriage, matrimony, wedlock] 6: a political unit formed from
previously independent people or organizations; "the Soviet Union" 7: a set
containing all and only the members of two or more given sets; "let C be
the union of the sets A and B" [syn: sum, join] 8: the occurrence of a uniting
of separate parts; "lightning produced an unusual union of the metals" 9:
a device on a national flag emblematic of the union of two or more sovereignties
(typically in the upper inner corner) 10: making or becoming a single unit;
"the union of opposing factions"; "he looked forward to the unification of
his family for the holidays" [syn: unification, uniting]
Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University
