Merriam Webster Online
Main Entry: mar·riagePronunciation: 'mer-ij, 'ma-rij
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mariage, from Anglo-French, from
marier to marry
1 a (1) : the state of being united to a person of the
opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and
contractual relationship recognized by law (2) : the state
of being united to a person of the same sex in a
relationship like that of a traditional marriage
marriage> b : the mutual relation of married persons :
WEDLOCK c : the institution whereby individuals are joined
in a marriage 2 : an act of marrying or the rite by which the married
status is effected; especially : the wedding ceremony and
attendant festivities or formalities 3 : an intimate or close union
