to take as a husband or wife; take in marriage: Susan married Ed.
2.
to perform the marriage ceremonies for (two people who wish to be husband and wife); join in wedlock: The minister married Susan and Ed.
3.
to give in marriage; arrange the marriage of (often fol. by off): 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: The latest cameras marry automatic and manual features. A recent merger marries two of the nation's largest corporations.
7.
Nautical.
a.
to lay together (the unlaid strands of two ropes) to be spliced.
b.
to seize (two ropes) together end to end for use as a single line.
c.
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)
9.
to take a husband or wife; wed.
10.
(of two or more foods, wines, etc.) to combine suitably or agreeably; blend: This wine and the strong cheese just don't marry.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME marien < OF marier < L marītāre to wed, deriv. of marītus conjugal, akin to mās male (person)]
1297, from O.Fr. marier, from L. maritare "to wed, marry, give in marriage," from maritus "married man, husband," of uncertain origin, perhaps ult. from "provided with a *mari," a young woman, from PIE base *meri- "young wife," akin to *meryo- "young man" (cf. Skt. marya- "young man, suitor"). Said from 1530 of the priest, etc., who performs the rite.
Male\, a. [F. m[^a]le, OF. masle, mascle, fr. L. masculus male, masculine, dim. of mas a male; possibly akin to E. man. Cf. Masculine, Marry, v. t.]1. Of or pertaining to the sex that begets or procreates young, or (in a wider sense) to the sex that produces spermatozoa, by which the ova are fertilized; not female; as, male organs. 2. (Bot.) Capable of producing fertilization, but not of bearing fruit; -- said of stamens and antheridia, and of the plants, or parts of plants, which bear them. 3. Suitable to the male sex; characteristic or suggestive of a male; masculine; as, male courage. 4. Consisting of males; as, a male choir. 5. (Mech.) Adapted for entering another corresponding piece (the female piece) which is hollow and which it fits; as, a male gauge, for gauging the size or shape of a hole; a male screw, etc. Male berry (Bot.), a kind of coffee. See Pea berry. Male fern (Bot.), a fern of the genus Aspidium (A. Filixmas), used in medicine as an anthelmintic, esp. against the tapeworm. Aspidium marginale in America, and A. athamanticum in South Africa, are used as good substitutes for the male fern in medical practice. See Female fern, under Female. Male rhyme, a rhyme in which only the last syllables agree, as laid, afraid, dismayed. See Female rhyme, under Female. Male screw (Mech.), a screw having threads upon its exterior which enter the grooves upon the inside of a corresponding nut or female screw. Male thread, the thread of a male screw.
Mar"i*tal\, a. [F., fr. L. maritalis, fr. maritus belonging to marriage, n., a husband. See Marry, v.] Of or pertaining to a husband; as, marital rights, duties, authority. "Marital affection." --Ayliffe.
Mar"riage\, n. [OE. mariage, F. mariage. See Marry, v. t.]1. The act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal union of a man and a woman for life, as husband and wife; wedlock; matrimony. Marriage is honorable in all. --Heb. xiii. 4. 2. The marriage vow or contract. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 3. A feast made on the occasion of a marriage. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son. --Matt. xxii. 2. 4. Any intimate or close union. Marriage brokage. (a) The business of bringing about marriages. (b) The payment made or demanded for the procurement of a marriage. Marriage favors, knots of white ribbons, or bunches of white flowers, worn at weddings. Marriage settlement (Law), a settlement of property in view, and in consideration, of marriage. Syn: Matrimony; wedlock; wedding; nuptials. Usage: Marriage, Matrimony, Wedlock. Marriage is properly the act which unites the two parties, and matrimony the state into which they enter. Marriage is, however, often used for the state as well as the act. Wedlock is the old Anglo-Saxon term for matrimony.
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Audio Help [mar-ee] Pronunciation Key verb, -ried, -ry·ing. 
