wed

wed
wed (v.) O.E. weddian "to pledge, covenant to do something, marry," from P.Gmc. *wadjojanan (Cf. O.N. veðja "to bet, wager," O.Fris. weddia "to promise," Goth. ga-wadjon "to betroth"), from PIE root *wadh- "to pledge, to redeem a pledge" (Cf. L. vas, gen. vadis "bail, security," Lith. vaduoti "to redeem a pledge"). Sense remained "pledge" in other Germanic languages (Cf. Ger. Wette "bet, wager"); development to "marry" is unique to English. "Originally 'make a woman one's wife by giving a pledge or earnest money', then used of either party" [Buck]. Related: Wedded; wedding.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Wed — Wed, v. t. [imp. {Wedded}; p. p. {Wedded} or {Wed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wedding}.] [OE. wedden, AS. weddian to covenant, promise, to wed, marry; akin to OFries. weddia to promise, D. wedden to wager, to bet, G. wetten, Icel. ve[eth]ja, Dan. vedde,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wed — Wed, v. t. [imp. {Wedded}; p. p. {Wedded} or {Wed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wedding}.] [OE. wedden, AS. weddian to covenant, promise, to wed, marry; akin to OFries. weddia to promise, D. wedden to wager, to bet, G. wetten, Icel. ve[eth]ja, Dan. vedde,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wed — [ wed ] (past tense and past participle wed or wed|ded) verb intransitive or transitive MAINLY JOURNALISM to marry someone a. to combine one thing with another: wed something with something: a merger that will wed American ingenuity with Swiss… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • wed — (= marry). The form of the past tense and past participle is either wedded or wed. Its shortness makes it a popular word with headline writers and journalists • (Nicole said of meeting Urban, whom she wed in June last year: ‘I think we were two… …   Modern English usage

  • Wed — (w[e^]d), n. [AS. wedd; akin to OFries. wed, OD. wedde, OHG, wetti, G. wette a wager, Icel. ve[eth] a pledge, Sw. vad a wager, an appeal, Goth. wadi a pledge, Lith. vad[*u]ti to redeem (a pledge), LL. vadium, L. vas, vadis, bail, security,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • WED — or Wed may refer to:* The act of getting married (example: Jack wed Jill ) * Wednesday * UN World Environment Day * WED Enterprises, the original name of Walt Disney Imagineering * Where Eagles Dare , film …   Wikipedia

  • wed — [wed] vt. wedded, wedded or wed, wedding [ME wedden < OE weddian, lit., to pledge, engage < wed, a pledge, akin to Ger wetten, to pledge, wager < IE base * wadh , a pledge, to redeem a pledge > L vas (gen. vadis), a pledge] 1. to… …   English World dictionary

  • Wed — Wed, v. i. To contact matrimony; to marry. When I shall wed. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wed — /wed/, v., wedded or wed, wedding. v.t. 1. to marry (another person) in a formal ceremony; take as one s husband or wife. 2. to unite (a couple) in marriage or wedlock; marry. 3. to bind by close or lasting ties; attach firmly: She wedded herself …   Universalium

  • wed — [wed] v past tense and past participle wedded or wed [I,T not in progressive] [: Old English; Origin: weddian] to marry used especially in literature or newspapers …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • wed — [wed] v past tense and past participle wedded or wed [I,T not in progressive] [: Old English; Origin: weddian] to marry used especially in literature or newspapers …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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