morganatic

2 definitions found

morganatic - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Morganatic \Mor`ga*nat"ic\, a. [LL. matrimonium ad morganaticam,
     fr. morganatica a morning gift, a kind of dowry paid on the
     morning before or after the marriage, fr. OHG. morgan
     morning, in morgangeba morning gift, G. morgengabe. See
     Morn.]
     Pertaining to, in the manner of, or designating, a kind of
     marriage, called also left-handed marriage, between a man
     of superior rank and a woman of inferior, in which it is
     stipulated that neither the latter nor her children shall
     enjoy the rank or inherit the possessions of her husband.
     --Brande & C. -- Mor`ga*nat"ic*al*ly, adv.
     [1913 Webster]

morganatic - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  morganatic
      adj 1: (of marriages) of a marriage between one of royal or
             noble birth and one of lower rank; valid but with the
             understanding that the rank of the inferior remains
             unchanged and offspring do not succeed to titles or
             property of the superior [syn: morganatic, left-  handed
             ]