I. ˈnəpsh]əl, -pch], chiefly in substandard speech ]əwəl\ adjective
Etymology: Latin nuptialis, from nuptiae wedding (from nuptus, past participle of nubere to marry a man) + -alis -al; akin to Greek nymphē bride, nymph, Old Slavic smibiti to couple
1. : of or relating to marriage or the marriage ceremony
the nuptial day
a nuptial hymn
2.
a. : capable of breeding
several large nuptial males
b. : characteristic of the breeding season
nuptial coloration
c. : concerned with or preliminary to copulation
nuptial behavior
II. noun
( -s )
: marriage , wedding
must employ you in some business against our nuptial — Shakespeare
— usually used in plural
preparations … for the approaching nuptials — W.H.Prescott