Morganatic

Quick meaning: Morganatic is an adjective meaning Designating a marriage (or the wife involved) between a man of higher rank and a woman of lower rank, often having various legal repercussions (typically that such a wife has no claim on the husband's possessions or title). It was not an aspect of English law, but was common in other royal houses, especially in Germany.

Meaning

Designating a marriage (or the wife involved) between a man of higher rank and a woman of lower rank, often having various legal repercussions (typically that such a wife has no claim on the husband's possessions or title). It was not an aspect of English law, but was common in other royal houses, especially in Germany.

Example Sentences

Because of her noble birth, she bitterly resented her position as a morganatic wife.

After her death, he arranged a morganatic marriage with Anna in 1757, which made him even more vulnerable to charges of sexual impropriety.

Louis's association with the pious widow, Madame de Maintenon (with whom he contracted a morganatic marriage in 1684) had led to a new tone of piety, even prudery, at court.

Francis Ferdinand's marriage was a morganatic alliance, and in consequence of a declaration which he made when contracting it, his children do not inherit his rights to the Austrian crown.

Synonyms for morganatic

Depending on context, synonyms include legitimate, left-handed.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include legitimate, left-handed, maritated, matrimonious, antimarriage, common-law.

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