a. [ad. L. co(n)nūbiāl-is, f. co(n)nūbium marriage, wedlock, f. con- together + nūb-ĕre to marry: see NUPTIAL.]
1. Of or pertaining to marriage, or the married state; nuptial, matrimonial.
1656. in Blount, Glossogr.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 743. The Rites Mysterious of connubial Love.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 18, ¶ 4. Of my friends who have been least successful in connubial contracts.
1770. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 404. Kind connubial tenderness.
1839. W. Chambers, Tour Holland, 38/1. The ladies must also have reached a discreet age, before they enter the connubial state.
2. transf. a. Married, wedded; also fig. b. Pertaining to a husband or wife, conjugal. (humorous.)
1808. J. Barlow, Colomb., I. 789. Connubial vines o’ertop the larch they climb.
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ld. Thoulouse. Provoking from connubial toes a hint.
1876. M. Davies, Unorth. Lond., 69. Originally, no schism at all seems to have been contemplated by the connubial Evangelist.
Hence Connubialism (nonce-wd.), the married state. Connubialize v. intr. (humorous), to enter the married state, to marry. Connubially adv.
1848. Tait’s Mag., XV. 310. The glittering temple of connubialism.
1868. Contemp. Rev., VII. 224. In the flurry of incipient connubialism.
1870. H. Rowley (title), Gamosagammon, or Hints on Hymen for the use of parties about to Connubialize.
1884. W. S. Gilbert, Mikado. Unless connubially linked.
