hymeneal

WOTD – 29 April 2011

See also hymenial, and hymenal

English [edit]

From Latin hymenaeus (from Ancient Greek ὑμεναῖος (“matrimonial”)) +‎ -al. Compare hymen.

hymeneal (comparative more hymeneal, superlative most hymeneal)

Pertaining to marriage.
- 1806, Jane West, Letters to a Young Lady, vol I:
  
  I consider these more as the privileges of age, than as part of the hymeneal dowry.
- 1831, Anna Maria Winter, Thoughts on the Moral Order of Nature, vol. III, IV.3.vii:
  
  It seems to me that girls ought to be early taught to discriminate, between the characteristic of a hymeneal connexion and of a dishonourable one apparently resembling it.
- 2005, Catherine Bennett, The Guardian, 23 Jun 2005:
  
  Is it so difficult to wait until you are out of the register office to exchange some home-made vows and a selection of inspiring hymeneal ditties - To His Coy Mistress, for instance, or some lines from The Hollow Men?
(anatomy) Of or pertaining to the hymen.
- 1978, AS Byatt, The Virgin in the Garden, p. 422:
  
  ‘It doesn't seem to qualify as a haemorrhage,’ he said, with his usual cocky certainty. ‘Just heavy hymeneal bleeding, I'd say.’

pertaining to marriage

pertaining to hymen

hymeneal (plural hymeneals)

A hymn, song or poem in honour of a wedding.
- 1717, Alexander Pope, Eloisa to Abelard,
  
  For her white virgins hymeneals sing, / To sounds of heav'nly harps she dies away, / And melts in visions of eternal day.

hymn, song or poem