Remarry

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɹiːˈmæɹi/

Definitions

  1. To enter into a new marriage after previously being married and divorced | To take a spouse again following a prior marriage that has ended | To form a new marital union subsequent to the dissolution of an earlier one
  2. To engage in a marriage again after having been previously married and separated from that spouse
  3. To establish a new marital relationship following the end of a former marriage

Etymology: The concept behind this verb is straightforward: it describes the act of entering into marriage again after a previous marriage has ended, whether by death or divorce. Its formation follows a common English pattern where the prefix "re-" is added to a base verb to indicate repetition or doing something again. In this case, "marry" is the base verb, meaning to unite in marriage, and "re-" signals doing that act once more. The root verb "marry" itself comes from Old French "marier," which in turn traces back to the Latin "maritare," meaning "to marry, give in marriage." This Latin verb is derived from "maritus," meaning "husband," which is connected to the broader Indo-European root related to marriage and matrimony. The English language adopted "marry" during the Middle Ages, a period when many legal and social customs around marriage were being formalized. Adding the prefix "re-" to form a verb indicating repetition became productive in English from the late Middle Ages onward, but the precise moment when "remarry" first appeared in print is less clear. It likely emerged naturally alongside developments in legal and social recognition of second marriages, which became more common as societal attitudes towards divorce and widowhood evolved. Over time, this verb has retained its literal meaning without significant semantic shifts. It neatly encapsulates the experience of marrying again, reflecting changes in social structures that allow or encourage remarriage. The simplicity of its construction highlights English’s tendency to create new verbs through prefixation, making the meaning immediately transparent to speakers.

Synonyms: reunite, wed again, marry again

Antonyms: divorce, separate