morganatic

[ mawr-guh-nat-ik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a form of marriage in which a person of high rank, as a member of the nobility, marries someone of lower station with the stipulation that neither the low-ranking spouse nor their children, if any, will have any claim to the titles or entailed property of the high-ranking partner.

morganatic

/ ˌmɔːɡəˈnætɪk /

adjective

1. of or designating a marriage between a person of high rank and a person of low rank, by which the latter is not elevated to the higher rank and any issue have no rights to the succession of the higher party's titles, property, etc

Derived Forms

• ˌmorgaˈnatically, adverb

Other Words From

• morga·nati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of morganatic¹

1720–30; < New Latin morganāticus (adj.), for Medieval Latin phrase ( mātrimōnium ) ad morganāticam (marriage) to the extent of morning-gift ( morganātica representing Germanic *morgangeba (feminine); compare Old English morgengiefu gift from husband to wife on day after wedding)

Word History and Origins

Origin of morganatic¹

C18: from the Medieval Latin phrase mātrimōnium ad morganāticum marriage based on the morning-gift (a token present after consummation representing the husband's only liability); morganātica, ultimately from Old High German morgan morning; compare Old English morgengiefu morning-gift

Example Sentences

Edward proposed to the idea of a morganatic marriage in which Simpson would not become queen consort and their potential children would be barred from inheriting the throne following his death but was ultimately unsuccessful.

From Fox News

The King proposed a morganatic marriage - in which he would be King but she not the Queen - but it was rejected by the prime minister and other Commonwealth governments.

From BBC

This pledge, known as a morganatic oath, was the concession the Emperor extracted in exchange for allowing the marriage to proceed.

From Forbes

It is interesting to find a country where morganatic marriages are in high repute.

From Project Gutenberg

Her claim was practically acknowledged in Germany, where morganatic marriages were already in fashion; and even in England rumours of it were rife.

From Project Gutenberg