betroth etymology

Etymology:

• Old French: betrotier
• Vulgar Latin: betrothiare
• Late Latin: betrotare, from
• Merovingian Frankish: betrudare ("to give as a pledge")

Meaning:

To formally engage (a person) to be married to another.

Origin:

The word "betroth" originated in the Merovingian Frankish language, where it meant "to give as a pledge." This sense of the word was carried over into Vulgar Latin, where it was used to describe the formal agreement between two families to have their children married to each other.

From Vulgar Latin, the word entered Old French as betrotier, which was eventually borrowed into English in the 13th century. The spelling of the word changed over time, from "betrothe" to "betroth," and its meaning narrowed to specifically refer to the formal engagement of a couple to be married.

betroth relate terms

• betrothed

  Etymology Betrothed derives from the Old French word betrother meaning to promise i

• betroth

  Etymology Old French betrotier Vulgar Latin betrothiare Late Latin betrotare from M

• truth

  Etymology Old English treowþ from Proto Germanic treuwĭþą meaning faithfulne

• troth

  Etymology The word troth derives from the Old English word treoð which means faith

• truce

  Etymology Old French trève truce cease fire Medieval Latin treuga truce Pro

• trust

  Etymology The word trust comes from the Old English word treowe which means faithf

• tree

  Etymology The word tree is derived from the following roots Proto Indo European PI

• engage

  Etymology From Middle English enwagen from Old English onweagian On on upon

• affiance

  Etymology Old French afiancier to betroth Vulgar Latin affidentiare to be bound by p

• plight

  Etymology Old French plite plight condition state Proto Germanic pliht duty

• nuptial

  Etymology The word nuptial comes from the Latin word nuptialis which means relatin

• refrain

  Etymology Old French refraindre Medieval Latin refrangere Latin re back frang