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morganatic Definition

mor·ga·natic (môr′gə nat′ik)

adjective

designating or of a form of marriage between a royal or noble person and a person of inferior rank, with the provision that neither the spouse of inferior rank nor the children of the marriage, if any, may lay claim to the rank or property of the other spouse

Etymology: < ML (matrimonium ad) morganaticam, (marriage with) morning gift < morganaticum, altered < OHG morgengeba, morning gift, gift given to the wife on the day after marriage (in lieu of any share in the husband's property)

morganatic Related Forms
mor′·ga·nat′i·cally adverb
morganatic Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • marriage: Then, to emphasize this Bertil's younger brother Prince Carl Johan entered a morganatic marriage in 1946.
  • wife: They alleged that the Duke's morganatic wife, the countess of Hochberg had him kidnaped in October 1812 to favor her own son.
morganatic Quotes

From his childhood onward this boy will be surrounded by sycophants and flatterers by the score, and will be taught to believe himself as of a superior creation. A line will be drawn between him and the people whom he is to be called upon some day to reign over. In due course, following the precedent which has already been set, he will be sent on a tour round the world, and probably rumours of a morganatic alliancewill follow, and the end of it all will bethattheCountry will be calledupontopay the bill.

—Hardie, (James) Keir