MORGANATIC

[mor.ga.nat.ic] adj [NL matrimonium ad morganaticam, lit., marriage with morning gift] (ca. 1741): of, relating to, or being a marriage between a member of a royal or noble family and a person of inferior rank in which the rank of the inferior partner remains unchanged and the children of the marriage do not succeed to the titles, fiefs, or entailed property of the parent of higher rank -- mor.ga.nat.i.cal.ly adv