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A secondary meaning of Old English ealu, the ancestor of Modern English ale, was “feast, banquet,” at which the drinking of ale was a prominent activity. There were a number of these feasts and banquets that survived into the 19th century, but the oldest and best-established was the bride-ale, or wedding feast, attested in Old English as brydealu. In Middle English the ale half of the word had lost its stress and was associated with the noun suffix –al (as in funeral) and the adjective suffix (as in parental). By the 18^th^ century, bridal was perceived primarily as an adjective, as it is today.
Examples of bridal in a Sentence
Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Brushed Curls Bianca Jagger's bridal mane is worthy of a rockstar wedding.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024
Emily Chan, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2025
Bun With Baby's Breath A sleek low know is chic and timeless, all while providing the ideal foundation for a collection of bridal accessories.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near bridal
Cite this Entry
“Bridal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bridal. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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