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

Natasha Harding, who now uses her married name Allen-Wyatt, is facing claims she took money for one-to-one coaching with children that she did not deliver.

From BBC

She has previously spoken about her parents attempting to force her to marry when she was a teenager, her escape, and being disowned as a result.

From BBC

He had been married and at the same time in an extramarital relationship with a producer at Fox News that produced a daughter.

From Salon

The researchers held six focus group sessions with more than two dozen women married to farmers in rural Georgia.

From Science Daily

This effectively bars the deposed leader, who is married to a French woman.

From BBC

Related Words

• join
• wed