Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Marriage \Mar"riage\, n. [OE. mariage, F. mariage. See {Marry},
   v. t.]
   1. The act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal
      union of a man and a woman for life, as husband and wife;
      wedlock; matrimony.

            Marriage is honorable in all.         --Heb. xiii.
                                                  4.

   2. The marriage vow or contract. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

   3. A feast made on the occasion of a marriage.

            The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king
            which made a marriage for his son.    --Matt. xxii.
                                                  2.

   4. Any intimate or close union.

   {Marriage brokage}.
      (a) The business of bringing about marriages.
      (b) The payment made or demanded for the procurement of a
          marriage.

   {Marriage favors}, knots of white ribbons, or bunches of
      white flowers, worn at weddings.

   {Marriage settlement} (Law), a settlement of property in
      view, and in consideration, of marriage.

   Syn: Matrimony; wedlock; wedding; nuptials.

   Usage: {Marriage}, {Matrimony}, {Wedlock}. Marriage is
          properly the act which unites the two parties, and
          matrimony the state into which they enter. Marriage
          is, however, often used for the state as well as the
          act. Wedlock is the old Anglo-Saxon term for
          matrimony.