engagement ring
English
[edit]
Noun
[edit]engagement ring (plural engagement rings)
- (jewelry) A ring given to one's fiancé(e) or intended fiancé(e), signifying a promise to wed, typically a gold band with one or more diamonds or other precious stones.
- 1888, Rudyard Kipling, “The Phantom Rickshaw”, in The Phantom 'Rickshaw and Other Tales, Allahabad: A.H. Wheeler and Co., page 13:
- Then, aroused to the sense of what was proper among mortals circumstanced as we were, I pointed out to Kitty that an engagement-ring was the outward and visible sign of her dignity as an engaged girl; and that she must forthwith come to Hamilton's to be measured for one.
- (by extension) Any ring that has the appearance of a ring given as a promise to wed.
- 2010, Donald L. Maly, Oasis of Hope, page 20:
- After about five minutes we dug up an old engagement ring.
- 2014, Holly Martin, The Guestbook[1]:
- Wednesday: I found an engagement ring on the beach this morning, beautiful little thing, a diamond the shape of a teardrop and two clusters of tiny sapphires on either side.
Derived terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]a ring signifying a promise to wed
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