To Wed Meant to Pledge
A wedding is a marriage ceremony. The Old English verb meant to pledge, and the pledge is still what makes the ceremony work.
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people marry. The Old English *weddian* meant to pledge or promise, from *wedd*, a pledge or security. That is still the legal core of the event: whatever else happens, the ceremony exists to record promises made in front of witnesses.
- A marriage ceremony. *A summer wedding.*
- An anniversary. *A golden wedding.*
- Wedding as a modifier. *Wedding ring.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | wedding | A quiet wedding. |
| Plural | weddings | Two weddings. |
| Verb | wed | They wed in June. |
| Past | wedded | Lawfully wedded. |
| Related | marriage | A long marriage. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The wedding is at two o'clock.The ceremony.
- They celebrated their silver wedding.Twenty-five years.
- Lawfully wedded.The old formula, still used in some ceremonies.
Wedding anniversaries
- Silver — twenty-five years
- Ruby — forty
- Golden — fifty
- Diamond — sixty
- Platinum — seventy
From Old English *weddung*, from *weddian*, to pledge, from *wedd*, a pledge — related to Latin *vas*, a surety, and to the *wager* you place on an outcome.
Wedding or marriage?
The wedding is the ceremony; the marriage is the relationship and legal status that follows.
Are wed and wager related?
Yes. Both come from a root meaning a pledge or security given as a guarantee.