kiddushin

English

Etymology

Jewish Babylonian Aramaic קידושין (literally “sanctifications”), plural of קידוש. Syntactically equivalent to, but differs in meaning from, Hebrew קִדּוּשִׁים.

Noun

kiddushin

1. (Judaism) An engagement (promise to marry) between a man and a woman, made by themselves or by relatives.
   • 1996, Macy Nulman, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer, page 218:

     Just as Kiddushin takes place when the groom puts a ring on his bride's finger, so we, too, wind a strap around our finger and are sanctified unto the Holy One, blessed be He.

Related terms

• kiddush