Wed (?), v. i. To contact matrimony; to marry. "When I shall
wed." Shak.
Wed , v. t. [imp.
Wedded; p. p. Wedded or Wed; p. pr. & vb. n. Wedding.]
[OE. wedden, AS. weddian to covenant, promise, to wed, marry;
akin to OFries. weddia to promise, D.
wedden to wager, to bet, G.
wetten, Icel. veðja, Dan.
vedde, Sw. vädja to appeal, Goth. gawadjōn to betroth. See Wed, n.]
1. To take for husband or for wife by a formal ceremony; to marry; to espouse.
With this ring I thee
wed.
Bk. of
Com. Prayer.
I saw thee first, and wedded thee.
Milton.
2. To join in marriage; to give in wedlock.
And Adam, wedded to another Eve,
Shall live with her.
Milton. 3. Fig.: To unite as if by the
affections or the bond of marriage; to attach firmly or indissolubly.
Thou art wedded to calamity.
Shak.
Men are wedded to their lusts.
Tillotson.
[Flowers] are wedded thus, like beauty to old age.
Cowper.
4. To take to one's self and support; to espouse. [Obs.]
They positively and concernedly wedded his cause.
Clarendon.
Wed (w&ebreve;d),
n. [AS.
wedd; akin to OFries.
wed, OD. wedde, OHG,
wetti, G. wette a wager, Icel. veð a pledge, Sw. vad a wager, an appeal, Goth. wadi a pledge, Lith. vadůti to redeem (a pledge), LL. vadium, L. vas, vadis, bail, security,
vadimonium security, and Gr. &?;, &?; a prize. Cf. Athlete,
Gage a pledge, Wage.]
A pledge; a pawn. [Obs.] Gower. Piers Plowman.
Let him be ware, his neck lieth to wed [i. e., for a security].
Chaucer.
Hear it pronounced