adj.1 (of a marriage) between a person of high rank and another of lower rank, the spouse and children having no claim to the possessions or title of the person of higher rank.
2 (of a wife) married in this way.
Derivatives:
morganatically adv.
Etymology: F morganatique or G morganatisch f. med.L matrimonium ad morganaticam 'marriage with a morning gift', the husband's gift to the wife after consummation being his only obligation in such a marriage