Marie

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. A female given name of French origin, commonly used to designate women; also a term used historically for religious figures or saints bearing this name; sometimes used in titles or as a respectful form of address for women
2. A personal name for females derived from the Latin form of Mary, often found in various cultures as a standalone or compound name; historically associated with Christian saints and notable women; occasionally appearing as a part of place names or works of art
3. Identifying a traditional female first name rooted in European languages, associated with religious heritage and cultural significance; used to refer to individuals or figures in history and society; also recognized in literary and artistic contexts as a symbol or tribute name

Etymology: "Marie" is the French form of "Mary," and in English it was once a spelling of Mary in its own right. Middle English already had the form "Marie," which entered the language alongside the older "Mary" and the two have run in parallel ever since. Because both descend from the same source, they are doublets: separate borrowings of one name that arrived by different routes and took on different spellings and sounds. The name itself traces back to the Hebrew "Miryam," borne by the sister of Moses in the Hebrew Bible. Its path into Western Europe ran through Greek and Latin, where it appeared as "Maria," and from there into the Romance languages, including French. English speakers received the name both through the Latin-rooted church tradition and through French, which is why the spelling "Marie" has remained a recognisable variant of the English name.

Synonyms: Mary, Maria, Marie biscuit, marie biscuit