mat·ri·mo·ny (māt'rə-mō'nē) n.
pl.mat·ri·mo·nies The act or state of being married; marriage.
[Middle English, from Old French matrimoine, from Latin mātrimōnium, from māter, mātr-, mother; see māter- in Indo-European roots.] mat'ri·mo'ni·al adj., mat'ri·mo'ni·al·ly adv.
1303, from O.Fr. matremoine, from L. matrimonium "wedlock, marriage," from matrem (nom. mater) "mother" + -monium, suffix signifying "action, state, condition."