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To make legal; to give legal sanction to; to legalize; as, to authorize a marriage.

rthly employments avocations. Fuller. By the secular cares and avocations which accompany marriage the clergy have been furnished with skill in common life. Atterbury.

Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in church. See Banns (the common spelling in this sense).

Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in a church, or other place prescribed by law, in order that any person may object, if he knows of just cause why the marriage should not take place.

rous, cruel, or brutal action; an outrage. A heinous barbarism . . . against the honor of marriage. Milton.

The duty or privilege of the marriage bed. Shak.

One who swerves from and is unfaithful to the marriage vow. [Poetic] Shak.

To give in marriage. I could have bestowed her upon a fine gentleman. Tatler.

To lead astray, as a maiden; to seduce (as under promise of marriage) and then abandon.

To contract to any one for a marriage; to engage or promise in order to marriage; to affiance; -- used esp. of a woman. He, in the first flower of my freshest age, Betrothed me unto the only heir. Spenser. Ay, and we are betrothed. Shak.

g, or the fact of being betrothed; a mutual promise, engagement, or contract for a future marriage between the persons betrothed; betrothment; affiance. "The feast of betrothal." Longfellow.

From one to another of; mutually affecting. There was some speech of marriage Betwixt myself and her. Shak. Betwixt and between, in a midway position; so-so; neither one thing nor the other. [Colloq.]

To invite; to call in; to request to come. As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matt. xxii. 9 To bid beads, to pray with beads, as the Roman Catholics; to distinguish each bead by a prayer. [Obs.] -- To bid defiance to , to defy openly; to brave. -- To bid fair, to offer a good prospect; to make fair promise…

Guilty of bigamy; involving bigamy; as, a bigamous marriage.

l of divorce, in the Jewish law, a writing given by the husband to the wife, by which the marriage relation was dissolved. Jer. iii. 8. -- Bill of entry, a written account of goods entered at the customhouse, whether imported or intended for exportation. -- Bill of exceptions. See under Exception. -- Bill of exchang…

A nuptia; festival or ceremony; a marriage. Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky. Herbert.

The marriage bed. [Poetic]

A male friend who attends upon a bridegroom and bride at their marriage; the "best man." Sir W. Scott.

To join in marriage. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

A whisper; a report spread secretly or cautiously. There's a certain buzz Of a stolen marriage. Massinger.