bridal

English

Etymology

From Middle English bridale, from Old English brȳdealo (“wedding ale; wedding feast”); synchronically analyzable as bride +‎ ale. The attributive usage was strengthened by association with bride +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbraɪ.dl̩/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (US) enPR: brīd-(ə)l, IPA^(key): /ˈbɹaɪd(ə)l/
• Homophone: bridle
• Rhymes: -aɪd(ə)l

Noun

bridal (plural bridals)

1. (archaic) A wedding feast or festival; a wedding.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

     […] the crowne, which Ariadne wore / Upon her yvory forehead, that same day / That Theseus her unto his bridal bore […]

   • 1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:

     Thus, in the dead time of the night before her bridal, Edith Granger wrestled with her unquiet spirit, tearless, friendless, silent, proud, and uncomplaining.

Translations

wedding

• Armenian: հարսանիք (hy) (harsanikʿ)
• Bulgarian: сватба (bg) f (svatba)
• Finnish: häät (fi) pl
• German: Hochzeit (de) f
• Hebrew: כְּלוּלוֹת‎ (he) f pl (klulót)
• Romanian: nuntă (ro) f

Adjective

bridal (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to a bride, or to wedding; nuptial.

   bridal ornaments; a bridal outfit; a bridal chamber

Derived terms

• bridal carry
• bridal couple
• bridal crown
• bridal day
• bridal registry
• bridal salon
• bridal shower
• bridal suite
• bridal tree
• bridal waltz
• bridal wear
• bridal wreath

 

Translations

nuptial

• Armenian: հարսանեկան (hy) (harsanekan), հարսանյաց (hy) (harsanyacʿ)
• Bulgarian: сватбен (bg) (svatben), брачен (bg) (bračen)
• Catalan: nupcial
• Finnish: morsius- (fi), hää-
• German: bräutlich, hochzeitlich (de), Braut-, Hochzeit-

Anagrams

• labrid, ribald

Middle English

Noun

bridal

1. Alternative form of bridale