Friday, May 15, 2009

It Depends on the Definition of the Word "Definition"

From Galley Friend P.G.:

"The commenters, of course, use the plain English term "torture" immediately, because outside of the MSM, English is still used to mean what it has always meant." --Andrew Sullivan 5/14/2009 [Emphasis mine]

Marriage:

–noun
the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.

the legal or religious ceremony that formalizes the decision of a man and woman to live as husband and wife, including the accompanying social festivities [Emphasis mine again]

Dictionary.com definition of Marriage


Heck, let's throw the Merriam-Webster's definition in while we're at it:



Main Entry:
mar·riage Listen to the pronunciation of marriage
Pronunciation:
\ˈmer-ij, ˈma-rij\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English mariage, from Anglo-French, from marier to marry
Date:
14th century

1 a (1): the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2): the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage b: the mutual relation of married persons : wedlock c: the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage2: an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected ; especially : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities3: an intimate or close union

2 comments:

Unknown said...

You need to use the Oxford English Dictionary definition. Andrew is British after all.....

PG said...

Duane, you're right: From the compact Oxford English Dictionary:

marriage

• noun 1 the formal union of a man and a woman, by which they become husband and wife.

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/marriage?view=uk