morganatic

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Translations

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Mediaeval Latin morganaticus, from morganaticum (“‘morning-gift’”), from Proto-Germanic *murgano-geƀā ( > Old English morgenġifu).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /mɔːɡəˈnatɪk/
• (US) IPA: /mɔɻɡəˈnædɪk/

[edit] Adjective

morganatic (comparative more morganatic, superlative most morganatic)

1. Designating a marriage (or the wife involved) between a man of higher rank and a woman of lower rank, often having various legal repercussions (typically that such a wife has no claim on the husband's possessions or title). It was not an aspect of English law, but was common in other royal houses, especially in Germany.
   • 2006, Marsha Keith Schuchard, Why Mrs Blake Cried, Pimlico 2007, p. 149:

     After her death, he [Count Zinzendorf] arranged a morganatic marriage with Anna in 1757, which made him even more vulnerable to charges of sexual impropriety.

   • 1942, Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, Canongate 2006, p. 346:

     Because of her noble birth, she bitterly resented her position as a morganatic wife.

   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:

     we have this day repudiated our former spouse and have bestowed our royal hand upon the princess Selene, the splendour of the night. (The former morganatic spouse of Bloom is hastily removed in the Black Maria.)

[edit] Translations

French: morganatique fr(fr)

Spanish: morganático m.