nuptial

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: nup=tial

CIDE DICTIONARY

nuptial, a. [L. nuptialis, fr. nuptiae marriage, wedding, fr. nubere, nuptum, prop., to cover, to veil, hence, to marry, as the head of the bride was covered with a veil; cf. Gr. bride, nymph: cf. F. nuptial.].

 Of or pertaining to marriage; done or used at a wedding; as, nuptial rites and ceremonies.  [1913 Webster]
"Then, all in heat,
They light the nuptial torch."  [1913 Webster]

nuptial, n. 

 Marriage; wedding; nuptial ceremony; -- now only in the plural.  [1913 Webster]
"Celebration of that nuptial, which
We two have sworn shall come."  [1913 Webster]
"Preparations . . . for the approaching nuptials."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

nuptial, adj. & n.
--adj. of or relating to marriage or weddings.
--n. (usu. in pl.) a wedding.

Etymology

F nuptial or L nuptialis f. nuptiae wedding f. nubere nupt- wed

THESAURUS

nuptial

amorous, bridal, carnal, conjugal, connubial, epithalamic, erogenic, erogenous, erotic, erotogenic, fleshly, gamic, heterosexual, husbandly, hymeneal, libidinal, marital, married, matrimonial, oversexed, potent, procreative, sensual, sex, sexed, sexlike, sexual, sexy, spousal, straight, undersexed, venereal, voluptuous, wedded, wedding, wifely

ROGET THESAURUS

nuptial

Marriage

N marriage, matrimony, wedlock, union, intermarriage, miscegenation, the bonds of marriage, vinculum matrimonii, nuptial tie, married state, coverture, bed, cohabitation, match, betrothment, wedding, nuptials, Hymen, bridal, espousals, spousals, leading to the altar, nuptial benediction, epithalamium, sealing, torch of Hymen, temple of Hymen, hymeneal altar, honeymoon, bridesmaid, bridesman, best man, bride, bridegroom, married man, married woman, married couple, neogamist, Benedict, partner, spouse, mate, yokemate, husband, man, consort, baron, old man, good man, wife of one's bosom, helpmate, rib, better half, gray mare, old woman, old lady, good wife, goodwife, feme, feme coverte, squaw, lady, matron, matronage, matronhood, man and wife, wedded pair, Darby and Joan, spiritual wife, monogamy, bigamy, digamy, deuterogamy, trigamy, polygamy, mormonism, levirate, spiritual wifery, spiritual wifeism, polyandrism, Turk, bluebeard, unlawful marriage, left-handed marriage, morganatic marriage, ill- assorted marriage, mesalliance, mariage de convenance, marriage broker, matrimonial agency, matrimonial agent, matrimonial bureau, matchmaker, schatchen, married, one, one bone and one flesh, marriageable, nubile, engaged, betrothed, affianced, matrimonial, marital, conjugal, connubial, wedded, nuptial, hymeneal, spousal, bridal, the gray mare the better horse, a world-without-end bargain, marriages are made in Heaven, render me worthy of this noble wife, si qua voles apte nubere nube pari.