The modern verb 'wed' originates from the Old English weddian, which meant "to pledge, covenant, or engage to marry." This Old English term is related to the noun wedd, meaning "a pledge," and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic wadja, signifying a pledge or security. The core semantic thread from its ancient roots to its current use is the concept of a solemn promise or binding agreement, which evolved specifically to denote the contract of marriage. This connection illustrates how a general term for a pledge became specialized in English to refer primarily to the marital union.

The word is a simplex form derived from Old English weddian, meaning "to pledge, covenant, or marry."