Affianced

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A condition characterized by a formal agreement to marry someone, indicating mutual promises of commitment and dedication to the relationship
2. A status signifying that two individuals are engaged in a commitment to unite in marriage, involving promises and future plans together
3. Formally pledged to enter into marriage with another person

Etymology: The word carries a promise inside it: "fidere" in Latin meant "to trust," and the same root gives us "fidelity," "confide" and "faith." In Medieval Latin, "affidare" meant to pledge one's trust to someone, and the notion of trust was the core of the betrothal, a bond of faith given before any wedding took place. That Latin verb passed into Middle French as "affier," meaning to betroth or to pledge oneself, and from it came the noun "affiance," a formal promise of marriage. English borrowed the noun and built the verb "affiance" on it, so "affianced" is the past participle, describing a person who has been pledged in this way. Note that "affianced" is an adjective here, so "affianced couple" describes two people bound by a formal promise to marry.

Synonyms: betrothed, engaged

Antonyms: unengaged