— morganatically , adv.
/mawr'geuh nat"ik/ , adj.
of or pertaining to a form of marriage in which a person of high rank, as a member of the nobility, marries someone of lower station with the stipulation that neither the low-ranking spouse nor their children, if any, will have any claim to the titles or entailed property of the high-ranking partner.
[ 1720-30; morganaticus (adj.), for ML phrase ( matrimonium ) ad morganaticam (marriage) to the extent of morning-gift ( morganatica repr. Gmc * morgangeba (fem.); cf. OE morgengiefu gift from husband to wife on day after wedding) ]