marry

¹

[ mar-ee, mer-ee ]

verb (used with object)

, mar·ried, mar·ry·ing.

1. to take in marriage:

   After being together for five years, I finally asked her to marry me.

2. to perform the marriage ceremonies for (two people); join in wedlock:

   The minister married Susan and Ed.

3. to give in marriage; arrange the marriage of (often followed by off ): They want to marry off all their children before selling their big home.

   Her father wants to marry her to his friend's son.

   They want to marry off all their children before selling their big home.

4. to unite intimately:

   Common economic interests marry the two countries.

5. to take as an intimate life partner by a formal exchange of promises in the manner of a traditional marriage ceremony.
6. to combine, connect, or join so as to make more efficient, attractive, or profitable: A recent merger marries two of the nation's largest corporations.

   The latest cameras marry automatic and manual features.

   A recent merger marries two of the nation's largest corporations.

7. Nautical.
   1. to lay together (the unlaid strands of two ropes) to be spliced.
   2. to seize (two ropes) together end to end for use as a single line.
   3. to seize (parallel ropes) together at intervals.
8. to cause (food, liquor, etc.) to blend with other ingredients:

   to marry malt whiskey with grain whiskey.

verb (used without object)

, mar·ried, mar·ry·ing.

1. to wed.
2. (of two or more foods, wines, etc.) to combine suitably or agreeably; blend:

   This wine and the strong cheese just don't marry.

marry

²

[ mar-ee ]

interjection

, Archaic.

1. (used as an exclamation of surprise, astonishment, etc.)

marry

¹

/ ˈmærɪ /

interjection

1. archaic.
   an exclamation of surprise, anger, etc

marry

²

/ ˈmærɪ /

verb

1. to take (someone as one's partner) in marriage
2. tr to join or give in marriage
3. tr to acquire (something) by marriage

   marry money

4. to unite closely or intimately
5. trsometimes foll byup to fit together or align (two things); join
6. tr nautical
   1. to match up (the strands) of unlaid ropes before splicing
   2. to seize (two ropes) together at intervals along their lengths

Pronunciation Note

See Mary.

Derived Forms

• ˈmarrier, noun

Other Words From

• mar·ri·er noun
• non·mar·ry·ing adjective
• un·mar·ry·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of marry¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English marien, from Old French marier, from Latin marītāre “to wed,” derivative of marītus “conjugal,” akin to mās “male (person)”

Origin of marry²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English Mari(e), marie, mare , euphemistic variant of Mary (the Virgin)

Word History and Origins

Origin of marry¹

C14: euphemistic for the Virgin Mary

Origin of marry²

C13: from Old French marier, from Latin marītāre, from marītus married (man), perhaps from mās male

Example Sentences

While the decision was procedural, it cleared the way for same-sex couples to marry in California.

From Los Angeles Times

Just last week, California voters formally removed Proposition 8 from the state Constitution and enshrined the right to marry.

From Los Angeles Times

“When you look at discrimination in the face — these people who got up and testified for hours about what it’s like to be denied the right to marry, it’s transformative,” she said in a 2013 interview with The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Olson sued on behalf of two gay couples, and Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that it was unconstitutional discrimination to deny them the right to marry.

From Los Angeles Times

He said, "U.S. searches for 'move to Canada' increased by 1,270% making this a perfect time to debut my new reality show, 'Who Wants to Marry a Mountie?"

From Salon

Related Words

• join
• wed