intermarry
UK[ˌɪntəˈmæri]US[ˌɪntərˈmæri]
v
(of members of different groups, especially different racial, religious, or social groups) to marry each other.
v
(of families, clans, etc.) to become connected by marriage.
Morpheme Breakdown
inter
marry
inter
between
marry
to wed
Etymology
The word "intermarry" is a transparent compound formed within English from the well-established Latin prefix "inter-" and the verb "marry." The prefix "inter-," meaning "between" or "among," has been a productive element in English since the Middle English period, borrowed from Latin. The verb "marry" entered English via Old French from the Latin marītāre, which itself derives from marītus (husband), a term of probable Indo-European origin related to providing and taking on social roles. The logic of the compound is direct and enduring: "intermarry" literally means "to marry between (groups)," capturing the core concept of forming marital bonds across distinct social, ethnic, or familial boundaries. This construction exemplifies how English leverages classical prefixes to create precise verbs describing complex social relations.
Analysis
Structure: inter (between) + marry (to wed)
- inter: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "between, among, mutually, reciprocally." It functions as a locative/relational prefix in this word.
- marry: From Old French marier, from Latin marītāre (to wed), from marītus (husband). It functions as the verbal root.
Examples
Historically, laws in some places forbade people from different races to intermarry.
The two royal families intermarried frequently to strengthen political alliances.
In a globalized society, it is increasingly common for people of different faiths to intermarry.