The Mystery Of "Are Wed" Procedures: Unveiling An Unusual Term

To wed means to get married to someone in a formal ceremony. The word is derived from the Old English weddian, meaning to pledge, and is mainly used in a formal context. It can also be used to describe uniting or joining two things, such as in the phrase a building that will wed with the landscape.

The etymology of 'wed'

The word "wed" has its origins in Old English, deriving from the term "weddian", which meant "to pledge oneself, covenant to do something, vow, betroth, or marry". The word also encompassed the idea of uniting two people in marriage and conducting the marriage ceremony. This word has its roots in the Proto-Germanic "*wadja", which is also the source of the Old Norse "veðja", Danish "vedde", and Old Frisian "weddia", all of which translate to "to bet or wager".

The Proto-Germanic root can be further traced to the Proto-Indo-European root "*wadh-" or "*wed-", meaning "to pledge or redeem a pledge". This root is also the source of the Latin "vas" or "vadis", meaning "bail or security", and the Lithuanian "vaduoti", which means "to redeem a pledge". Interestingly, the development of the word "wed" specifically to mean "marry" is unique to the English language.

The Middle English form of the word was "wedden" or "weddien", and it carried the same meaning as its Old English predecessor. Over time, the word evolved to be used in a formal context to refer to the act of marrying or joining in marriage. The word is also used in phrases like "wedded to the idea" or "to be wedded to something", meaning to be firmly attached or committed to something, just as one would be in a marriage.

'Wed' vs 'wedded'

"Wed" and "wedded" are two words that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct nuances and usages.

"Wed"

"Wed" is a verb that means to marry or to unite two people in a formal ceremony. It is often used in the context of a wedding, with people "wedding" their partners. For example, "They will wed in the fall". The past tense of "wed" can be either "wed" or "wedded", although "wed" is more commonly used in modern English.

"Wedded"

"Wedded" is an adjective that describes a state of being married or united, as in "a wedded couple". It can also be used to describe a strong attachment or dedication to something, such as an idea or cause. For instance, "a fearless person wedded to a just cause".

While "wedded" can be used as the past tense of "wed", as in "I wedded my husband", it sounds old-fashioned to modern ears and is not commonly used in that context. Instead, "wedded" is primarily used as an adjective.

Usage in Sentences

• "The couple wed in a small, intimate ceremony."
• "After years of dating, they finally decided to wed."
• "They are a newly wedded couple, still in the honeymoon phase."
• "He is wedded to the idea of moving abroad and won't consider other options."
• "The novel weds tragedy and comedy in a unique way."

The use of 'wed' in a sentence

The word "wed" is typically used in a formal context and means to get married or to join in marriage. Here are some examples of how "wed" can be used in a sentence:

• "They will wed in the fall."
• "The actress wed her fourth husband last year."
• "The novel weds tragedy and comedy."
• "His new writing job wedded his love of words and his eye for fashion."
• "Sophie Ellis-Bextor has secretly wed longtime boyfriend, guitarist Richard Jones."
• "Adrienne and Christopher, against Florence's wishes, did indeed wed."

The word "wed" can also be used in a more figurative sense to mean uniting or blending things together:

• "She wedded herself to the cause of economic justice."
• "A novel that weds style and content perfectly."
• "A building that will wed with the landscape."

Synonyms of 'wed'

The word "wed" is often used in the context of marriage, and here are some synonyms in that sense:

• Tie the knot
• Take a spouse
• Espouse
• Mate
• Couple
• Marry
• Get hitched (slang)
• Plight your troth (old-fashioned)
• Get spliced (informal)

"Wed" can also be used in the sense of uniting or joining things together, and here are some synonyms with a similar meaning:

• Combine
• Link
• Connect
• Integrate
• Amalgamate
• Blend
• Ally

The meaning of 'unwed'

The word "unwed" is an adjective that refers to someone who is not married. It is often used to describe unmarried parents or couples, and can be seen as an old-fashioned synonym of the word "unmarried". The word can be used in a sentence as follows: "Born in 1452 to unwed parents, Leonardo spent his childhood on his father's family's estate."

The term "unwed" is often used in newspapers and other media to describe individuals who are not married, and it carries a similar meaning to words like "single", "unattached", and "fancy-free". For example, the sentence "Most of the employees at that small company are unwed" describes a group of people who are not married.

In the past, the word "unwed" was also used as a transitive verb, meaning "to annul the marriage of". This usage is less common today. For example, the phrase "At last it was determined to unwed the unhappy pair" describes a situation where a marriage was annulled.

Overall, the word "unwed" is used to describe someone's marital status, particularly when referring to those who are not married. It is an adjective that is often used in a similar context to the word "unmarried", although it may carry a slight connotation of being old-fashioned or outdated.

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