| 释义 |
morganatic, a.|mɔːgəˈnætɪk|
[ad. mod.L. morganāticus (whence G. morganatisch, F. morganatique, It. morganatico, etc.) evolved from the med.L. phrase matrimonium ad morganaticam, where the last word is prob. synonymous with morganāticum morning-gift, f. OHG. morgan (= morn) in *morgangeba morning-gift (morganegiba in Gregory of Tours, 6th c.; MHG. morgengâbe). The literal meaning of the term ‘morganatic marriage’ (matrimonium ad morganaticam) is, as is explained in a 16th c. passage quoted by Du Cange, a marriage by which the wife and the children that may be born are entitled to no share in the husband's possessions beyond the ‘morning-gift’.]
The distinctive epithet of that kind of marriage by which a man of exalted rank takes to wife a woman of lower station, with the provision that she remain in her former rank, and that the issue of the marriage have no claim to succeed to the possessions or dignities of their father; also, occasionally, used to designate the marriage, under similar conditions, of a woman of exalted rank to a man of inferior station. Hence morganatic husband, morganatic wife.
A morganatic marriage is sometimes called a ‘left-handed marriage’ (G. Ehe zur linkenhand), because in the ceremony the bridegroom gave the bride his left hand instead of his right. The latter term is sometimes used in a wider sense, for the matrimonium inæquale of German law, in which, though the spouse of inferior rank was not elevated, the children retained the rights of succession.
1727–41Chambers Cycl. s.v. Marriage, In Germany, they have a kind of Marriage called morganatic, wherein [etc.]. 1827Disraeli Viv. Grey vi. iv, His Royal Highness..espoused the lady with his left hand..which we..call a morganatic marriage. 1838Murray's Handbk. N. Germ. p. xxxix, A Countess of Hochberg, to whom he [the Grand Duke] was united by a left-handed, but not morganatic, marriage, an union which did not exclude the children from the succession. 1846Times 10 Sept. 4/4 Maria Christina [ex-Queen of Spain] after procuring the title of ‘highness’ to her morganatic husband and ‘grandee of the first class’ to the eight children [etc.]. 1865Even. Stand. 7 Feb., The Countess Danner, the morganatic wife of the late King of Denmark, is about to marry Count Silfwerstolpe.
So morgaˈnatical a.
In recent Dicts. |