nuptial, a. and n.
(ˈnʌpʃəl)
Also 5 nupcyalle.
[a. F. nuptial († nupcial, = Sp. and Pg. nupcial, It. nuziale), or ad. L. nuptiālis, f. nuptiæ wedding, f. nupt-, nubĕre to wed.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to marriage or the marriage ceremony. Also fig.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos xv. 56 The goddesse Iuno, quene and patronesse of the commocyons nupcyalle. 1581 E. Campion in Conferences ii. (1584) L ij, He that had not the nuptial garment, maketh this claime to be the sonne of God. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. xxiii. (Arb.) 61 Those to celebrate marriages were called songs nuptiall or Epithalamies. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv. 154 Now I come to their nuptiall rites, their custome and manner of marriage is thus. 1671 Milton Samson 1194, I chose a Wife,..And in your City held my Nuptial Feast. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 182 ¶9 She..at last fixed the nuptial day. 1796 Morse Amer. Geogr. II. 44 The priest chants the nuptial benediction. 1836 Thirlwall Greece II. 125 The nuptial ceremony, the feast, and the funeral, would have appeared spiritless..without this accompaniment. 1891 J. Adam (title), The Nuptial Number of Plato. |
† b. nuptial father, one who represents the bride's father at a wedding. Obs.
| 1748 Richardson Clarissa IV. l. 306 My letter of invitation to my Lord M. to be her Nuptial-father. 1802 Mrs. J. West Infidel Father II. 52 He officiated as the nuptial father. 1804 E. de Acton Tale without Title III. 135 Mr. and Miss Webster, her intended nuptial father and bride-maid. |
c. nuptial plumage, the special plumage of birds during the breeding season.
| 1840 Penny Cycl. XVIII. 280/1 Old Male and Female [Plover] in summer or nuptial plumage. |
† 2. Married, wedded. Obs. rare.
| 1615 Chapman Odyss. i. 664 Love's equal flame To her he felt, as to his nuptial dame. 1642 C. Vernon Consid. Exch. 52 The nuptiall Queens of this Realme, participating so much in the Regality of the Crowne. |
B. n.
1. Marriage, wedding. (Usually in pl.)
| pl. c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden) 245 St. Hierome & St. Gregorie that will not call our ladie's marriage nuptialls. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. ii, Accommodate to the nuptials of my scholar's 'haviour to the lady Courtship. 1624 Heywood Gunaik. vi. 282 Shee was by her father compelled to a second nuptialls with King Cephordus. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 82 ¶3 Soon after their Nuptials, the Bridegroom was obliged to go into a Foreign Country. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest 1 Their nuptials had been celebrated under the auspices of an approving..world. 1840 Thirlwall Greece lv. VII. 77 The nuptials were solemnised according to Persian usage. 1876 Gladstone Glean. (1879) II. 325 The nuptials of women of rank with clergymen of average station. |
| sing. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. i. i. 125, I must imploy you in some businesse against our nuptiall. 1611 ― Wint. T. iv. iv. 406 Me-thinkes a Father Is, at the Nuptiall of his sonne, a guest That best becomes the Table. 1654–66 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 614 The Nuptial was no sooner celebrated, than he repented it. 1721 Ramsay Content 214 Rare she appears, unless on some fine day She grace a nuptial, but soon hastes away. 1891 Merivale & Marzials Thackeray 27 Her own paltering..has brought about that ill-omened nuptial. |
† 2. Matrimony. Obs. rare—1.
| c 1620 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 84 Who in chast nuptialls shall lead their life. |
Hence ˈnuptial v., to speak of (a wedding); to marry. Also ˈnuptialist. (See quot.) rare—0.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., Nuptialist, a Bride or Wife; or a Bridegroom or Husband; Also one that makes Marriages. 1887 Browning Parleyings ii. vi, Nuptial me no such nuptials! 1893 A. Austin Betrothal Ode in Standard 5 May 5/3 For, though Love betrothes you, must Sovereign Duty nuptial you. |