Word Study
morganatic
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Adjective morganatic has 1 sense
- morganatic(s = adj.all) left-handed - (of marriages) of a marriage between one of royal or noble birth and one of lower rank; valid but with the understanding that the rank of the inferior remains unchanged and offspring do not succeed to titles or property of the superior; Array
CIDE DICTIONARY
morganatic, a. [LL. matrimonium ad morganaticam, fr. morganatica a morning gift, a kind of dowry paid on the morning before or after the marriage, fr. OHG. morgan morning, in morgangeba morning gift, G. morgengabe. See Morn.].
Pertaining to, in the manner of, or designating, a kind of marriage, called also left-handed marriage , between a man of superior rank and a woman of inferior, in which it is stipulated that neither the latter nor her children shall enjoy the rank or inherit the possessions of her husband. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
morganatic, adj.
1 (of a marriage) between a person of high rank and another of lower rank, the spouse and children having no claim to the possessions or title of the person of higher rank.
2 (of a wife) married in this way.
1 (of a marriage) between a person of high rank and another of lower rank, the spouse and children having no claim to the possessions or title of the person of higher rank.
2 (of a wife) married in this way.
Derivative
morganatically adv.
Etymology
F morganatique or G morganatisch f. med.L matrimonium ad morganaticam 'marriage with a morning gift', the husband's gift to the wife after consummation being his only obligation in such a marriage
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