wedlockn.
/ˈwɛdlɒk/, U.S. /ˈwɛdˌlɑk/ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > wedding or nuptials > marriage vows or bonds > [noun] > vow
eeOE
wedlocka1100
wed1390
marriagec1395
marriage vow1602
bed-vow1609
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > fornication, adultery, or incest > commit fornication, adultery, or incest [verb (intransitive)] > commit adultery
to break (one's) wedlocka1100
to break spousehoodc1175
to break (also spill) (one's) spousal1340
adultera1382
to overgo one's beda1382
vowtrec1475
to break matrimony1530
to break wedlock1530
adulterize1611
adulterate1613
to commit the seventh1874
to play away1987
a1100 Aldhelm Gloss. in Zeitschr. f. Deutsches Alterthum IX. 498/2 Pacta sponsalia refutans, wedlac wiðsacende.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2499 & tohh wass heh & soþ weddlac Haldenn onn eȝȝþerr hallfe.
c1230 Hali Meid. 19 Ȝif ha hare wedlac laheliche halden.
c1275 XI Pains of Hell 105 in Old Eng. Misc. 150 Heo þat her wedlac brekeþ To heore muþe þe flod takeþ.
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 295 For alle kepid they here maydynhed Or ellis wedlek.
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 3 Kepe ȝoure wedloke.
?c1510 tr. Newe Landes & People founde by Kynge of Portyngale sig. Eiiv There is..noman so hardy that dare breke his wedloke.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. (1812) I. xxi. 30 Howe be it she kept but euyll the sacrament of matrimony, but brake her wedloke.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. v. f. vjv And whosoever maryeth her that is divorsed, breketh wedlocke.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 207 How wedlocke betwyxte man and woman shulde be kepte after the lawe of god.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique Pref. sig. A iii None remembred the true obseruation of wedlocke.
1579 R. Rice Inuect. Vices E iv Christe aunswered,..Thou shalte not breake wedlocke: Thou shalte not kill.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) v. ii. 149 Em. That she was false to wedlocke? Oth. I, with Cassio. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) v. i. 123 Your Mother was most true to Wedlock . View more context for this quotation
2. figurative.c1400 26 Pol. Poems xxii. 25 To god, thi wedlok wiþ loue holde.c1530 Bible (Tyndale) Jonah Prol. (1863) B ij b This euell..nacion (which breake ye wedlocke of faith wherwith they be maried vn to God).in extended use.1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 102 Instructed thus, produce him [the stallion] to the Fair; And joyn in Wedlock to the longing Mare. View more context for this quotation† d. A marriage ceremony, wedding. Obsolete.
a. The condition of being married; marriage as a state of life or as an institution; matrimonial relationship. Now only in literary or legal use.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > [noun]
bridelockOE
yokeOE
spousehooda1200
spousea1225
wedlock?c1225
wedlockhoodc1230
marriagec1300
spousal1340
matrimonya1382
espousala1393
muliera1400
spousagea1400
spouseheadc1400
weddedhooda1450
wedhooda1450
wedding1489
espousage1549
the bond(s of wedlock or matrimony1552
nuptial1566
bed-match1582
bob-tail1585
Hymen's banda1593
Hymen1608
married life1609
conjugality1645
marriage state1652
conjugacy1659
marriage life1662
establishment1684
shackledom1771
connubiality1836
connubialism1848
weddedness1891
bedlock1922
the tender trap1954
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 153 Forhuse hit eauer is acwenht..buten ane inwedlac. hit is deadlich sunne.
c1230 Hali Meid. (Titus) 13 Hit [sc. coition] is tah in wedlac summes weis to þolien.
c1230 Hali Meid. (Titus) 33 Wedlac haueð hire frut þritti fald in heuene; widewehad, sixti fald.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 11201 For many come neuer yn wedlak But for þe fyrst cunnaunt þat men spak.
c1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. x. 202 (MS. T.) Siþ þe lawe haþ y-grauntid þat iche man haue a make in maner of wedlak.
c1386 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 20 Noon oother lyf, seyde he, is worth a bene, For wedlok is so esy and so clene That in this world it is a Paradys.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. IV. 353 In a nyȝt whan þei hadde i-payde dette of wedlok eyþer to oþer.
c1440 York Myst. xiii. 261 In lele wedlak þou lede þe.
a1450 Mirk's Festial 108 Yf scho had conceyuet out of wedlocke, þe Iewes wold haue sayde scho had ben a lechore.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xiii. 46 Iuno, the goddesse of wedlocke.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Matrimonie f. xiiii*v For asmuche as N. and N. haue consented together in holye wedlocke.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Hippocrates in Panoplie Epist. 287 They put away their wyues, and enter againe into wedlocke.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 43 Of Venus in wedlock thee daughter [L. Veneris nurus].
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxxiii. 215 That kind of loue which is the perfectest ground of wedlocke is seldome able to yeeld any reason of it selfe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) i. i. 117 Your brother is Legittimate, Your fathers wife did after wedlocke beare him. View more context for this quotation
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 39 [The Banians] so extreamely honour Wedlocke, that they seldome are vnmarried at seuen yeares of age.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 353 I pray'd for Children, and thought barrenness In wedlock a reproach. View more context for this quotation
1765 S. Foote Commissary i. 9 I look upon wedlock to be a kind of a lottery.
1797 S. James Narr. Voy. 170 He offered Haswell his sister in wedlock.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. ii, in Poems 84 Children, from Wedlock we by Laws restrain.
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Devereux I. i. i. 2 Sir Arthur had two children by wedlock.
1854 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity III. vi. iii. 61 Heribert himself, the great Archbishop, was a married man; his wedlock had neither diminished his power nor barred his canonization.
1879 W. H. Dixon Royal Windsor I. iv. 34 In her early days of wedlock, he neglected her.
b. born in (or †under or out of) wedlock: said distinctively of legitimate or illegitimate offspring. Now the most frequent use of the noun.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > child > relationship to parent > [adjective] > legitimate
full-bornlOE
born in (or under or out of) wedlockc1275
kindlya1300
mulierc1400
legitimatea1464
mulieryc1475
lawfulc1480
naturala1500
mulierly1506
lawfully1512
native1567
loyal1608
lineala1616
full-begotten1636
(on) the right side of the blanket1842
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > child > relationship to parent > [adjective] > illegitimate
cheves-bornOE
misbegetc1325
bastc1330
misbegettenc1330
bastard1376
unlawfula1425
naturalc1425
illegitime1502
base1529
base-begot1534
illegitimate1536
misbegotten1554
bastarded1579
misborn1583
nameless1594
spurious1598
unfathered1600
misgotten1623
misbegot1626
baseborn1645
slip-sprung1665
born in (or under or out of) wedlock1675
side wind1738
love-begotten1761
born on the wrong side of the blanket1771
anonymous1869
sinistral1897
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 199 Assaracus heuede enne broþer þe wes under wedlac iboren.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 8261 Som þat er in lele wedlayk born.
c1400 Gosp. Nicodemus (Galba) 252 In wedlayk [v.rr. wedlake, wedloyke] was he born.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur x. xxiii. 451 Sire Aglouale was his fyrste sone begoten in wedlok.
1547 in J. W. Clay Testamenta Eboracensia (1902) VI. 262 His bretheren and susters gotten in wedlaike.
1634 J. Canne Necessitie of Separation v. 219 Those children..which are born under wedlock.
1675 Char. Town-gallant 2 He is so bitter an Enemy to Marriage, that one would suspect him born out of Lawful Wedlock.
1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. 434 A legitimate child is he that is born in lawful wedlock.
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller II. ii. 25 I forgave the fellow..his two heinous crimes, of having been born in wedlock, and inheriting my estate.
1891 E. Peacock Narcissa Brendon II. 97 He did not believe that little Bessy was born in wedlock.
1911 Encycl. Brit. XVI. 379/2 The question remains, how far, if at all, English law recognizes the legitimacy of a person born out of wedlock.
c. In particularized sense: A matrimonial union; a married life.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > a marriage > [noun]
wedlock1377
matrimonya1402
marriagea1500
matrimoniala1500
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. ix. 152 And þus þourw cursed caym cam care vppon erthe; And al for þei wrouȝt wedlokes aȝein goddis wille.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 206 Thys lesson tellyth..how holy a wedlocke was betwyxte Ioachym and Anne.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 207 Whyle he [sc. God] behelde all the rightwys and honeste wedlockes that shulde be from the fyrste makeynge of man vnto the laste day.
1581 J. Studley tr. Seneca Hercules Oetæus ii, in T. Newton et al. tr. Seneca 10 Trag. f. 197 O woefull wight, it pitieth vs to see Thy wedlock in this tickle state to bee.
a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) v. 64 Tis sacriledge to violate a wedlock.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed xii, in Tales Crusaders I. 219 It was then your mother..of whose unhappy wedlock you have spoken?
1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles & St. James (new ed.) xxxiv, in Writings I. 345 And Snipeton, his wife in her winding-sheet, might so have solemnised a second wedlock.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > wedding or nuptials > [noun]
wifethingeOE
bridelopeOE
brydthing971
bridelockOE
bridalOE
noces?c1225
wedlocka1300
spousingc1300
weddingc1300
marriagea1375
espousala1393
sponsalia1535
nuptial1566
espousing1581
nuptial1581
marriage rite1592
nuptiallings1600
Hymen1608
marriage ceremony1616
bridaltya1637
confarreation1645
hymeneals1655
farreation1656
church wedding1852
nuptialities1863
shadi1893
matrimonials1986
a1300 K. Horn (Cambr.) 1254 Hi Runge þe belle Þe wedlak for to felle.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > married woman > [noun] > wife
wifeeOE
womanc1275
peerc1330
spousessc1384
ladyc1390
good lady1502
girl?a1513
spousage1513
little lady1523
the weaker vessel1526
companion1535
wedlock1566
Mrs1572
dame1574
rib?1590
feme1595
fathom1602
feme covert1602
shrew1606
wife of one's bosom1611
kickie-wickiea1616
heifer1616
sposa1624
bosom-partner1633
goodwife1654
little woman1715
squaw1767
the Mrs1821
missus1823
maw1826
lady wife1840
tart1864
mistress1873
mama1916
ball and chain1921
trouble and strife1929
old boot1958
1566 T. Nuce tr. Octavia iv. i. F iij Cæsars wedlock are you.
1567 G. Turberville tr. A. Sani di Cure Aunsweres in tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. 149v [Ulysses says] But I, not forcing of their giftes did loue my wedlock best.
1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) ix. f. 112 He heard his wedlocke shreeking out, and did hir calling know.
1602 B. Jonson Poetaster iv. iii. sig. G2v Which of these is thy Wedlocke, Menelaus? thy Hellen? View more context for this quotation
1605 G. Chapman Al Fooles i. ii. 118 Valerio, here's a simple meane for you To lye at racke and manger with your wedlocke.
1606 J. Marston Parasitaster ii. i. C 3 But to lie with ones brothers wedlocke, O my deere Herod, tis vile and vncommon lust.
1611 T. Middleton & T. Dekker Roaring Girle sig. E4v He watches For quarrelling wedlockes, and poore shifting sisters.
a1625 J. Fletcher Valentinian v. vi, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ddddddd/2 The most true constant lover of his wedlock.
1690 J. Dryden Don Sebastian ii. ii. 41 For his Wedlock, with all her haughtiness, I find her coming.
Compounds
a. Simple attributive (now rare or Obsolete) as in wedlock-band, wedlock-bed, wedlock-debt, wedlock-knot, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > [noun] > conjugal relations > rights and duties
bedc1175
wedlock-debt1422
marriage bed1567
marriage duty1567
spouse-bed1605
marriage joya1616
1422 J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 194 To pay wedlak dette hit is of no syn.
1557 Will of John Amcottes (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/39) ff. 189v–192 In the choyse of their wedlockmates.
1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 485 By wedlocke copulation we came into the world.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice v. i. 32 She kneeles and prayes for happy wedlock houres. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. iii. 243 Ile ioyne mine eldest daughter..To him forthwith, in holy Wedlocke bands [1595 wedlockes bandes] . View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) v. iv. 135 Whiles a Wedlocke Hymne we sing. View more context for this quotation
1624 R. Davenport City Night-cap (1661) ii. 17 Since our marriage, I have perform'd So fairly all judicial wedlock-offices, That [etc.].
a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Old Law (1656) v. 69 Will it please you to tast of the wedlock courtesie?
1635 J. Taylor Olde, Old Man sig. B3v She dead, he ten yeares did a Widdower stay; Then once more ventred in the Wedlock way.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 986 Who to save Her countrey from a fierce destroyer, chose Above the faith of wedlock-bands . View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1009 Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end, Not wedlock-trechery endangering life. View more context for this quotation
1820 W. Scott tr. Noble Moringer in Edinb. Ann. Reg. 1816 9 ii. p. ccccxcv It was the noble Moringer in wedlock bed he lay.
1824 J. Symmons tr. Æschylus Agamemnon 64 To Ilion came the wedlock-woe.
wedlock-bound adj. bound in marriage.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > [adjective]
wedded?a800
spousedc1300
weda1400
marriedc1400
boundenc1426
conjugate1471
nuptial?1585
yoked1607
continuous1642
wedlock-bound1667
coupled1672
conjugated1690
partnered1775
mated1821
attached1898
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 905 Alreadie linkt and Wedlock-bound To a fell Adversarie. View more context for this quotation
wedlock-breaker n. an adulterer.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > fornication, adultery, or incest > [noun] > adultery > adulterer
eaubruchea1000
eaubrekerec1175
wed-breaka1300
spousebreachc1350
adulterera1382
adulterc1384
spouse-breakera1387
vouterc1386
devoutour1393
wedlock-breakerc1500
devoterer1550
bed-swervera1616
adulterator1632
c1500 Mayd Emlyn in Anc. Poet. Tracts (Percy Soc.) 23 All wedlocke brekers.
1562 Certayn Serm. preached in Lincs. in H. Latimer 27 Serm. ii. f. 65v Thou shalt not be a wedlock breaker.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 267 Wedlocke breakers, & Cockold-makers.
wedlock-breaking n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > fornication, adultery, or incest > [adjective] > adulterous
spouse-breaka1400
wedlock-breaking?a1400
adulterousa1425
adulterine?1533
adulterate1556
adulterated1592
mechal1608
incestuous1632
roving1692
?a1400 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 370 Werne euery man..Off wedloke-brekynge wer to be.
c1530 Bible (Tyndale) Jonah Prol. (1863) B ij b This euell & wedlocke breakinge nacion..seke a signe.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (intransitive)]
weda1225
marrya1325
spousec1390
to make matrimonyc1400
intermarry1528
contract1530
to give (also conjoin, join, take) in (also to, into) marriage1535
to make a match1547
yoke1567
match1569
mate1589
to go to church (with a person)1600
to put one's neck in a noosec1600
paira1616
to join giblets1647
buckle1693
espouse1693
to change (alter) one's condition1712
to tie the knot1718
to marry out1727
to wedlock it1737
solemnize1748
forgather1768
unite1769
connubiate1814
conjugalize1823
connubialize1870
splice1874
to get hitched up1890
to hook up1903
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (transitive)] > join in marriage
wedOE
join1297
spousec1325
bind1330
couplea1340
to put togethera1387
conjoin1447
accouple1548
matea1593
solemnize1592
espouse1599
faggot1607
noose1664
to give (also conjoin, join, take) in (also to, into) marriage1700
rivet1700
to tie the knot1718
buckle1724
unite1728
tack1732
wedlock1737
marry1749
splice1751
to turn off1759
to tie up1894
1737 J. Ozell tr. F. Rabelais Wks. III. ix. 50 A single Person is never seen to reap the Joy and Solace that is found among those that are Wedlockt. Wedlock it then in the Name of God, quoth Pantagruel.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > fitness for marriage > [adjective]
marriable1440
wedlockable1558
marriageablea1575
weddable1611
ripe1616
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos vii. sig. S.iij One doughter did remayne..Now husbandripe, now wedlockable full, of laufull yeres.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > [noun]
bridelockOE
yokeOE
spousehooda1200
spousea1225
wedlock?c1225
wedlockhoodc1230
marriagec1300
spousal1340
matrimonya1382
espousala1393
muliera1400
spousagea1400
spouseheadc1400
weddedhooda1450
wedhooda1450
wedding1489
espousage1549
the bond(s of wedlock or matrimony1552
nuptial1566
bed-match1582
bob-tail1585
Hymen's banda1593
Hymen1608
married life1609
conjugality1645
marriage state1652
conjugacy1659
marriage life1662
establishment1684
shackledom1771
connubiality1836
connubialism1848
weddedness1891
bedlock1922
the tender trap1954
c1230 Hali Meid. (Titus) 33 Of þeos þre had, meidenhad & widewehad, & te þridde, wedlachad [Bodley MS. wedlac].
1644 J. Milton Doctr. Divorce (ed. 2) 60 Is it not most likely that God in his Law had more pitty towards man thus wedlockt, then towards the woman that was created for another.
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge Ep. Ded. That man..will never feel himself less at ease for being wedlockt but to one.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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