wed, wedde, wedden

t. & i. [A. S. wed dian to pledge, to engage, from wed =a pledge; cogn. with Dut. wedden =to lay a wager, from O. Dut. wedde =a pledge, a pawn; Icel. vedhja =to wager, from vedh =a pledge; Dan. vedde =to wager; Sw. vädja =to appeal, from vad =a bet, an appeal; Ger. wetten =to wager, from wette =a wager; Goth. gawadjon =to pledge, to betroth, from wadi =a pledge; Lat. vas (gen it. vadis ) = a pledge; cf. Lith. wèsti, pr. t. wedù =to marry, to take home a bride; Sansc. vadhú =a bride. From same root as wage wager, gage.] A. Transitive : 1. To marry, to take in marriage; to take as husband or wife. "The emperour in this lond weddede tho a wyf." Robert of Gloucester, p. 75. 2. To join in marriage; to give in wedlock. "In Syracusa was I born; and wed Unto a woman, happy but for me." Shakesp. Comedy of Errors , i. 1. 3. To join or attach one's self or itself to. "They led the vine To wed her elm." -Milton : P. L., v. 215. 4. To unite closely in affection; to attach firmly by pa ion, inclination, or prejudice. "Aged kings, wedded to will, that work without advice." *5. To unite forever or inseparably. Surrey : Paraphrase on Ecclesiastes, iii. "Thou art wedded to calamity." Shakesp.: Romeo and Juliet , iii. 3. IMG:content-0756.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0757.png:[blocks in formation]