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 /

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

marry

²

/ ˈmærɪ /

interjection

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

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

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

Origin of marry²

C14: euphemistic for the Virgin Mary

Example Sentences

The Hills, married for nearly 21 years, kissed each other as Lew bent his 6-foot-5 frame into the passenger seat.

From Washington Post

In 1997, two years after the death of his first wife, he married Charlotte Mailliard Swig, the longtime chief of protocol for the city of San Francisco.

From Washington Post

Ready for replacementSeveral times a year, Domino receives calls from women who are about to be married.

From Washington Post

The two started playing tennis and eventually married in 1982.

From Washington Post

I had my first attack of anxiety in third grade and it wasn’t until I was married with children that I learned how to keep it from controlling my life.

From Washington Post

That man was Xavier Cortada, a gay man who wrote of his frustration that he and his partner of eight years were unable to marry.

From The Daily Beast

The star announces he is to marry his 27-year-old boyfriend.

From The Daily Beast

It happened on Glee and in Sex and The City, and now in Japan women can marry themselves.

From The Daily Beast

Most critically, the split perspectives of Noah and Alison need to marry more elegantly.

From The Daily Beast

Hearst is to be released from prison and is planning to marry.

From The Daily Beast

"The man did not marry her for love," the Elder went on now somewhat more confident.

From Project Gutenberg

He shan't marry me without your consent, so don't be angry and abuse us all; for which you will be sorry an hour hence.

From Project Gutenberg

Does he think that he can force a handsome jolly young bachelor, like his son Gilbert, to marry the like o' her?

From Project Gutenberg

It is commonly said: If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and marry another man, shall he return to her any more?

From Project Gutenberg

In 1855 Congress passed an act conferring citizenship on alien women who should marry American citizens.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• join
• wed