[mar.riage] n [ME mariage, fr. OF, fr. marier to marry] (14c) 1 a: the state of being married b: the mutual relation of husband and wife: wedlock c: the institution whereby men and women are joined in a special kind of social and legal dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family
2: an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected; esp: the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities
3: an intimate or close union "the ~ of painting and poetry --J. T. Shawcross" -- mar.riage.abil.i.ty n -- mar.riage.able adj