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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
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024
Brittany wore white cowboy boots in one of her Coachella outfits that year, a two-piece lacey look that screamed bridal.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
She’s built herself an empire within fashion, from swimwear to ready-to-wear to bridal and even a shoe line.
—Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
Perhaps as a direct consequence of the pandemic, many brides (and in turn, designers) have pushed back against rigid conventions, opting instead for fashion-forward bridal wear styles that showcase personality over the traditional.
—Laura Neilson, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024
Emily Ratajkowski, for example, wore a directional Jacquemus bridal look, Cardi B was swathed in inky Atelier Versace spring 2003 lace, Kylie Jenner came dripping in blood-red Ludovic de Saint Sernin beads, and Kim Kardashian showed that simple is often the most impactful in pearlescent Balenciaga.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024
Among the looks are retro hot-pink mini dress, black feather mini and a ballet bridal moment
Selena Gomez is proving herself to be not only a musical powerhouse but also a fashion icon.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024
Taylor-Joy, 27, channeled avant-garde bridal wear in a custom Dior look complete with a sheer white cotton organdy cape with a hood.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
Homeowners love to book these spaces for birthday parties, bridal and baby showers and more — enjoying the convenience of parties in a great event space without the work of entertaining in their homes.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024
Shelby Wax, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2024
Another new trend taking the bridal world by storm is shorter dresses, which Tornai says brides are gravitating towards for civil ceremonies and after parties.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
There were bridal brand debuts from the designers Alejandra Alonso Rojas, Courte Collection and Nordeen, as well as the return of Odylyne the Ceremony to Bridal Fashion Week after a brief absence.
—Ivy Manners, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
There will also be a bridal fashion show and giveaways.
—Allison Kiehl, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
However, the advent of social media ushered in a new phase of expansion and opportunity, propelling the brand into the realms of ready-to-wear and bridal fashion, with flagship locations in Lagos and New York.
—Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
The timing of the bridal launch may strike some people as slightly suss, as the rumors that Mr. and Mrs. Bieber are heading for divorce are only gaining steam.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2024
Locals shop the legendary store for bridal sets, and Seiko, Citizen, and Pulsar watches are repaired on site.
—Trudy Haywood Saunders, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2024
Last year, Morocco complained that Algeria was trying to steal its bridal dress, when one of Algeria’s nomination files reportedly cribbed a caftan from Fez.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bridal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bridal
Cite this Entry
“Bridal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bridal. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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