mar·riage /ˈmɛrɪʤ, ˈmærɪʤ/
 婚姻,密切結合,結婚,婚禮,合并
 marriage
 配對
 Mar·riage n.
 1. The act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal union of a man and a woman for life, as husband and wife; wedlock; matrimony.
    Marriage is honorable in all.   --Heb. xiii. 4.
 2. The marriage vow or contract. [Obs.]
 3. A feast made on the occasion of a marriage.
    The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son.   --Matt. xxii. 2.
 4. Any intimate or close union.
 5. In pinochle, bézique, and similar games at cards, the combination of a king and queen of the same suit. If of the trump suit, it is called a royal marriage.
 Marriage brokage. (a) The business of bringing about marriages. (b) The payment made or demanded for the procurement of a marriage.
 Marriage favors, knots of white ribbons, or bunches of white flowers, worn at weddings.
 Marriage settlement Law, a settlement of property in view, and in consideration, of marriage.
 Syn: -- Matrimony; wedlock; wedding; nuptials.
 Usage: -- Marriage, Matrimony, Wedlock. Marriage is properly the act which unites the two parties, and matrimony the state into which they enter. Marriage is, however, often used for the state as well as the act. Wedlock is the old Anglo-Saxon term for matrimony.
 ◄ ►
 marriage
      n 1: the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for
           life (or until divorce); "a long and happy marriage";
           "God bless this union" [syn: matrimony, union, spousal
           relationship, wedlock]
      2: two people who are married to each other; "his second
         marriage was happier than the first"; "a married couple
         without love" [syn: married couple, man and wife]
      3: the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony; "their marriage
         was conducted in the chapel" [syn: wedding, marriage
         ceremony]
      4: a close and intimate union; "the marriage of music and
         dance"; "a marriage of ideas"
 Marriage
    was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen.
    2:18-24). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed
    by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be
    framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident that monogamy was the
    original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This law was
    violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be
    introduced (Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of
    polygamy and concubinage in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4;
    22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.). Polygamy was acknowledged in
    the Mosaic law and made the basis of legislation, and continued
    to be practised all down through the period of Jewish histroy to
    the Captivity, after which there is no instance of it on record.
      It seems to have been the practice from the beginning for
    fathers to select wives for their sons (Gen. 24:3; 38:6).
    Sometimes also proposals were initiated by the father of the
    maiden (Ex. 2:21). The brothers of the maiden were also
    sometimes consulted (Gen. 24:51; 34:11), but her own consent was
    not required. The young man was bound to give a price to the
    father of the maiden (31:15; 34:12; Ex. 22:16, 17; 1 Sam. 18:23,
    25; Ruth 4:10; Hos. 3:2) On these patriarchal customs the Mosaic
    law made no change.
      In the pre-Mosaic times, when the proposals were accepted and
    the marriage price given, the bridegroom could come at once and
    take away his bride to his own house (Gen. 24:63-67). But in
    general the marriage was celebrated by a feast in the house of
    the bride's parents, to which all friends were invited (29:22,
    27); and on the day of the marriage the bride, concealed under a
    thick veil, was conducted to her future husband's home.
      Our Lord corrected many false notions then existing on the
    subject of marriage (Matt. 22:23-30), and placed it as a divine
    institution on the highest grounds. The apostles state clearly
    and enforce the nuptial duties of husband and wife (Eph.
    5:22-33; Col. 3:18, 19; 1 Pet. 3:1-7). Marriage is said to be
    "honourable" (Heb. 13:4), and the prohibition of it is noted as
    one of the marks of degenerate times (1 Tim. 4:3).
      The marriage relation is used to represent the union between
    God and his people (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 3:1-14; Hos. 2:9, 20). In
    the New Testament the same figure is employed in representing
    the love of Christ to his saints (Eph. 5:25-27). The Church of
    the redeemed is the "Bride, the Lamb's wife" (Rev. 19:7-9).