bride
bride
Pronunciation
bride
/braɪd/
Syllable 1: /braɪd/
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/aɪ/ - diphthong (as in "my")
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bride
Plural Noun: brides
Verb (transitive/intransitive): bride (less common in modern English, historically meant "to make a bride of")
Present Participle: briding (very rare)
Past Tense/Past Participle: brided (very rare)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A woman who is about to be married or has just been married.
Synonyms: newlywed, fiancée (before marriage), spouse, wife
Antonyms: groom (male counterpart), bachelor (unmarried man), spinster (unmarried woman)
Definition 2: (Figurative) Something, often abstract, that is chosen or prepared for a significant, often public, union or presentation.
Example: "The city was the chosen bride for the international summit."
Synonyms: selection, chosen one, object of focus
Antonyms: discarded, rejected, overlooked
Verb (Rare/Archaic)
Definition 1: (Transitive) To make someone a bride; to arrange a marriage for.
Synonyms: marry off, espouse
Antonyms: divorce, separate
Definition 2: (Intransitive) To act as a bride; to take on the role or appearance of a bride.
Synonyms: wed, marry
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific usage)
Examples of Use
Books:
"The bride, radiant in her grandmother's lace, walked slowly down the aisle, her eyes fixed on the man waiting for her." (From a contemporary romance novel)
"As the story unfolds, we see the transformation of a young peasant girl into a reluctant bride of the prince, highlighting themes of duty versus desire." (Literary analysis of a classic fairytale, The Goose Girl)
Newspapers:
"Royal Wedding: The nation eagerly anticipates the first glimpse of the bride's gown as preparations for the grand ceremony are finalized." (The Times)
"Local Couple Marries: The bride and groom exchanged vows at St. Peter's Church on Saturday, followed by a reception at the community hall." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Tips for the Modern Bride: From sustainable wedding planning to unique dress styles, discover the latest trends for your big day." (Brides.com)
"Celebrity Wedding Watch: All the photos from the star-studded event, including exclusive shots of the bride's arrival." (E! Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" features Uma Thurman as "The Bride," a former assassin seeking revenge on those who wronged her. (Miramax Films, October 2003)
Television Series: In "The Crown," the preparation and eventual marriage of Princess Elizabeth to Philip Mountbatten depict many scenes focusing on the royal bride. (Netflix, November 2016)
Song Lyrics: "Here comes the bride, all dressed in white..." (Traditional Wedding March, commonly used)
Video Game: In "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim," a questline involves a character who is a runaway bride seeking escape from an arranged marriage. (Bethesda Softworks, November 2011)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you see the pictures of the bride from last weekend's wedding? Her dress was absolutely stunning!" (Conversation among friends)
"My sister is going to be a bride next year, so we're starting to plan her bachelorette party." (Family discussion)
"He proposed on their anniversary – she's going to be a beautiful bride." (Comment on social media)
10 Quotes Using Bride
"Happy is the bride that the sun shines on." (English Proverb)
"A man should be a helper and a protector, not a tyrant and a jailer to his bride." (Elizabeth Cady Stanton)
"I have been a bride and I have been a mother, and I know what a woman wants." (Queen Victoria)
"Every good bride should be veiled." (Oscar Wilde)
"Love, like a well-drawn sword, makes of one flesh, bride and groom." (Alfred Lord Tennyson)
"There is nothing prettier than a beautiful bride." (Unknown)
"To have a true partner in life is the greatest gift a bride can receive." (Original)
"The bride had all the bloom of an antique painting." (George Eliot)
"She looked a bride, and was a queen." (Lord Byron)
"The bride has chosen her husband, but the dress chooses the bride." (Vera Wang)
Etymology
The word "bride" has a long history, coming from the Old English word "bryd." This Old English word meant a "betrothed or newly married woman." It's part of a family of words that appear in other Germanic languages, like Dutch ("bruid") and German ("Braut"), all carrying a similar meaning of a woman who is getting married or has just gotten married.
While we know its Germanic roots, the very earliest origin of "bryd" is a bit of a mystery, with different theories floating around among language experts. Some have suggested a connection to an ancient Indo-European root related to "cooking" or "brewing," hinting at the traditional role of a daughter-in-law (who would often be the newest woman in the household) in preparing food. Others link it to ideas of "young woman" or "fertility."
What's clear is that the word "bride" in English has been used for a woman who is about to be married or has just been married since before the 12th century, and that's the primary meaning it has carried through history.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bride
Bride-to-be: A woman who is engaged and will soon be married.
Bridezilla: A demanding or difficult bride-to-be.
Runaway bride: A bride who leaves her wedding before it takes place.
Bride price: (Often historical or anthropological context) Money or property given to the family of the bride by the groom or his family.
Here comes the bride: The common musical piece played as the bride walks down the aisle.
Like a blushing bride: To appear shy, innocent, and perhaps a little embarrassed, often in a positive way.
The city, a reluctant bride: (Original) Used metaphorically to describe a place undergoing significant, perhaps unwanted, change or development.
To take a bride: To marry.
As happy as a bride on her wedding day: To be extremely happy.
Cinderella bride: (Original) A bride who has come from humble beginnings to marry someone of high status.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bride from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
