nuptial
nuptial Lexical Profile
nuptial Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to marriage or a wedding ceremony.
"The couple exchanged their nuptial vows in a quiet garden ceremony surrounded by close family."
Relating to the breeding season or mating characteristics of animals, especially birds and amphibians.
"Many male songbirds develop vibrant nuptial plumage in the spring to attract a mate."
• noun
A wedding or marriage ceremony (almost always used in the plural 'nuptials').
"Friends and relatives traveled from across the country to attend the couple's summer nuptials."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a noun, 'nuptial' is almost exclusively used in the plural form 'nuptials' to refer to a wedding ceremony.
• Rhymes for nuptial
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 15th century from Middle French or directly from Latin 'nuptialis', from 'nuptiae' ('wedding'), derived from 'nubere' ('to marry, take a husband', originally 'to veil oneself').